World’s Best Carrot Cake
Hundreds of have spoken…this is The World’s Best Carrot Cake! Layers of moist flavor filled cake with coconut, crushed pineapple, carrots, spices, and nuts come together with a delectable cream cheese frosting.
I felt like I needed to add more veggies to my diet, so I made my favorite carrot cake! Ummm… Heck yeah! I’m happy to report that about three more slices of this baby and my eyesight should be back to normal!
I’m obsessed with this carrot cake recipe! It truly is the “World’s Best Carrot Cake”! That is no exaggeration. This recipe ALWAYS receives rave reviews! (It makes me look good!)
It’s the perfect balance of everything I love! This cake is bursting with flavor and ultra moist, but not overly sweet like some traditional carrot cakes.
How To Make The World’s BEST Carrot Cake
First you are going to place your wet ingredients into the mixer and blend.
Next add your dry ingredients and mix.
Then add your carrots, pineapple, coconuts and lastly the nuts and mix again. (Nuts are optional)
When you have blended all the ingredients together you’ll have a very thin batter like pictured below.
Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans, or you can do two 8-9 inch cake pans too. I wanted a three layer cake with thinner layers because I love how this cake looks with three layers. It’s a personal choice and totally up to you!
Tip: I only had two cake pans, so I baked two, and then did the third after the first one had slightly cooled, and I could invert it onto my cake plate.
Once you have baked your cakes in a 350-degree oven for about 30–40 minutes, place on a cooling rack and allow them to completely cool in the pans!
The reason for this… remember how I said this cake is “moist”…it’s really moist! I placed mine face down on a cooling rack the first time, and had to carefully lift mine with two spatulas. (It’s a nightmare you don’t wanna live through! Trust me!) Place your cake pan up against your cake plate and invert.
Use your favorite cream cheese recipe (I’ll include mine… I promise) Frost the tops of each cake layer.
I love that this cake is only frosted between the layers. You could go around the outside if you really want to, but Mars and I are not huge frosting fans so this method of just frosting in between the layers and on top is perfect for us.
I don’t do a ton of frosting either, just a nice medium layer. Again this is a personal choice. You can do whatever floats your boat! (Don’t take all your baking advice from me! Lol I’m the lady eating cake to get her vegetable count in!) (wink, wink)
Here is the finished cake. I didn’t go all fancy with piping frosting around the edges or adding any garnish. I really believe sometimes more is just that…more! Not necessarily better.
This cake is so beautiful on its own! It doesn’t need all that “Froufrou”! (I hate my kitchen table and am re-doing it soon!!! Just in case you were wondering.)
I do think it deserves a moment of silence…. ticktock…tick-tock….
Okay… enough of that! Let’s get to the good part…the eatin’! Ooooh…so super moist and so yummy! Makes eatin’ your veggies a divine pleasure!
One bite, and you can feel yourself start to elevate to new heights! (I said “heights” not “weight”! This cake has fruit and veggies it cancels out all calories!… You’re Welcome! Lol)
I made this for dessert the other night and my kids… who both told me they don’t usually like carrot cake…loved it! Mars, who has always “Passed” on my carrot cake, asked for a slice and then proceeded to “ewww and ahhhh” and ask me why he’s never tried it before? (Mmmmm… That’s a question only the other Martians can answer! Us Venusians eat any carb covered in frosting!)
Here are some other great Cake Recipes
- Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
- The Best Dark Chocolate Cake with Creamy Chocolate Buttercream
- Cake Mix Cinnamon Coffee Cake
- Best Vanilla Cake with Special Buttercream frosting
- Pumpkin Cake with Cream Cheese frosting
- Best Pound Cake Recipe from Julia’s Simply Southern
The printable recipe is located below.
If you try this recipe… I’d REALLY love to hear from you! I want to know if you love this splendid carrot cake as much as I do.
Have a GREAT day! Happy Veggie Eatin’!
World’s Best Carrot Cake
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 3/4 cup buttermilk
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup flaked coconut
- 1 8 ounce can crushed pineapple with juice
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two or three 8 inch pans, depending on if you are doing a two layer or three layer cake. You can make either two thicker 8 inch cakes or three thinner layers. It’s up to you and the desired look you’re trying to achieve.
- In your mixer bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, oil, sugar and vanilla. mix well.
- Add in your flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Mix till well blended.
- Next add your carrots, coconut, crushed pineapple with juice and chopped walnuts. Mix till just blended.
- Pour into prepared 8 inch cake rounds, bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes. Check to see if done. If finger lightly pressed in center bounces back it is done.
- Allow to cool in cake pans. Invert onto cake plate and frost each layer.
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/2 cup butter (softened)
- 8 oz. cream cheese (softened)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 lb. powdered sugar
- Beat the butter and cream cheese until nice and fluffy. Add in the vanilla and sifted powdered sugar and beat until nice and smooth. Test the consistency of the frosting. Too thin? Add powdered sugar 2 Tablespoons at a time. Too thick? Add a teaspoon of milk at a time.
Nutrition
Meet The Author
Hi! I'm Norine, the cook, baker, and recipe creator behind Norine's Nest. I love sharing and creating recipes that invite family, friends, and neighbors to gather around the dinner table. Sharing good food and creating memories with those we love brings me happiness. Thanks for stopping by my Nest!
Can I use half regular sugar and half light brown sugar
Hi Susan!
I’ve never used half and half in this recipe. You can use it…I’m just not sure of the results if you do as there is more moisture content in brown sugars vs. granulated sugar.
Sorry I can’t be of more help.
Norine
Hi. Not sure if anyone has asked this but could this be baked as a sheet pan instead of a layered cake if so what size pan would this fit best?
Hi Safa!
I half sheet pan (9×13) can be used to make this carrot cake! It turns out beautifully.
Happy Baking!
Norine
I made this for the first time yesterday for Easter and it was a HUGE hit with the family! I have never made carrot cake but will again with your recipe. I also just made it in a regular 9×10 pan and it turned out just a good. Thanks for sharing your talent! ❤️
Hi Melissa!
Thank you so much for stopping by and sharing! I’m so glad that wonderful family of yours loved this cake! You’re the BEST!
Thanks for all your support and friendship!
Norine
I’m so excited to try this cake for Easter this weekend. I’m going to make it with a slight twist as my walnuts that I have on hand are sugar coated almonds that I made last week. Hopefully it won’t make the cake too sweet… Can you get too sweet?????? LOL
This recipe sounds wonderful, can’t wait to try this. Thanks;
Hi Elaine!
I hope you tried this recipe and enjoyed it! It is one of my favorite cake recipes!
Have a Happy Week!
Norine
Can this recipe be made with gluten free flour?
Hi Tina!
I have not made it with gluten free flour so I’m really not comfortable saying whether it will work or not. I’m so sorry I can’t be of more help.
Norine
I have made this carrot cake multiple times and have got RAVE reviews every time. I love the texture of the cake. This is my go to for my carrot cake lovers.
This cake is amazing. I’ve never used pineapple and buttermilk but having done so, its very very delicious. Everyone who came over had to have some and one friend had to take some home for her husband.
Hi Kathleen!
I’m SO glad you enjoyed this cake! Isn’t the pineapple amazing in this carrot cake? It’s one of my favorite additions to this carrot cake.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing with me. I hope you’ll come back soon!
Have a great week!
Norine
Hello Norine!
I’m so excited to make your carrot cake today for my boyfriend’s birthday! I had a question for you because he loves raisins and I was wanting to include it to the recipe, but didn’t know how much and how that would affect the baking process? Any suggestions would be so helpful!
Thank you!
Hi Morgan!
I’m SO sorry I’m just seeing this…I took a couple days off! You can add raisins and I would do about 1/2 cup. I hope your boyfriend had a wonderful birthday and enjoyed your gift of love in the form of this favorite Carrot Cake!
Have a great week!
Norine
Do you think this carrot. Cake recipe can be made in a rectangular cake pan? I am going to a banquet. For special needs kiddies and don’t want to make a layer cake!
Thanks
Hi Darlene!
Sorry for the delayed response. I’ve been out of the office. YES! It can be made in a rectangular cake pan. I’ve made this cake as cupcakes, bundt cake, and sheet cake. It works well. You will want to keep an eye on it during baking just to make sure that you don’t over bake the cake.
My best to all the wonderful kids!
Norine