Easy Carrot Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting
Recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod
This no-fuss carrot cake is the perfect spring or anytime dessert. You will fall in love with the caramel cream cheese frosting, SWOON!
Prep Time20mins
Total Time56mins
Ingredients
For the Cake:
1/2cupneutral oilcanola, vegetable, or grapeseed
1cupgranulated sugar
2large eggsbeaten
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract
1/2cupcanned crushed pineappledrained
1cupfreshly grated carrot
1cupall-purpose flour
3/4teaspoonbaking soda
1/2teaspoonbaking powder
1/2teaspoonground cinnamon
1/4teaspoonsaltI added the salt
1/4cupraisinsI added the raisins
For the Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting:
3/4cupchopped caramel candies or 3/4 cup salted caramel sauceI used salted caramel sauce
8ouncescream cheesesoftened
1/2cuppowdered sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
In a large bowl, stir the oil and sugar together with a spoon, don't use a mixer. Add the eggs, vanilla, pineapple, and carrots.
In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the wet and stir until just combined. Gently fold in the raisins, if using.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 33-36 minutes or until cake is nicely golden brown and starting to pull away from the edges of the pan. Remove from the oven and let the cake cool completely.
While the cake is cooling, make the frosting. If you are using the caramel candies, melt the caramel in the microwave with a splash of water, set aside. If you are using the salted caramel sauce, just stir it and set aside.
With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the melted caramel or salted caramel sauce and vanilla extract. Stir until frosting is smooth.
Frost the cooled carrot cake with caramel cream cheese frosting. I like to drizzle a little extra salted caramel sauce over the top of the cake. Cut into squares and serve.
Note-cover the cake and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can bring it to room temperature before serving or eat it cold. I like carrot cake cold:)