Delicious Carrot Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Delicious Carrot Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake
- 250 g plain flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice, or pumpkin spice
- 1 pinch salt
- 150 g white sugar
- 100 g soft dark brown sugar
- 3 eggs, medium/large
- 250 ml vegetable oil, or any neutral oil, or unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 250 g freshly grated carrot
- 100 g chopped walnuts, plus extra for garnish
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 75 g butter
- 100 g icing sugar
- 200 g Philadelphia cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your conventional oven to 180°C. Grease and line a baking pan (22.5cm x 27.5cm or similar size, ensuring it's not smaller) with baking paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 180
- 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the plain flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, mixed spice, and a pinch of salt. Sift these dry ingredients into a separate bowl to remove any lumps, then set aside.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
In another large bowl, add the white sugar, soft dark brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Pour the vegetable oil into the wet mixture. Whisk again until the oil is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients mixture. Whisk until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
⏱️ 2 min
- 6
Gently fold in the freshly grated carrot and chopped walnuts (and any optional raisins or dried fruit/nuts). Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Pour the carrot cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the batter out evenly across the pan.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 35 minutes, or until the cake is firm to the touch when gently pressed. A skewer inserted into the center should come out clean.
⏱️ 35 min•🌡️ 180
- 9
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This will take at least 30 minutes, possibly longer.
⏱️ 30 min
- 10
While the cake cools, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and icing sugar together for about 2 minutes until nicely combined and light.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Add the Philadelphia cream cheese, vanilla extract, and fresh lemon juice to the butter and sugar mixture. Whisk until the frosting becomes smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 3 min
- 12
Chill the cream cheese frosting in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes before using. This helps it firm up for easier spreading.
⏱️ 20 min
- 13
Once the carrot cake is completely cool, spread the chilled cream cheese frosting evenly over the top using a palette knife or spatula.
⏱️ 3 min
- 14
Garnish the frosted cake with additional chopped walnuts and a little orange zest for color and flavor.
⏱️ 2 min
- 15
Cut the carrot cake into squares and serve. Enjoy!
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Delicious Carrot Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting
For the Carrot Cake
- 250 g plain flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon mixed spice, or pumpkin spice
- 1 pinch salt
- 150 g white sugar
- 100 g soft dark brown sugar
- 3 eggs, medium/large
- 250 ml vegetable oil, or any neutral oil, or unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 250 g freshly grated carrot
- 100 g chopped walnuts, plus extra for garnish
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 75 g butter
- 100 g icing sugar
- 200 g Philadelphia cream cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Preheat your conventional oven to 180°C. Grease and line a baking pan (22.5cm x 27.5cm or similar size, ensuring it's not smaller) with baking paper.
⏱️ 5 min•🌡️ 180 - 2
In a large mixing bowl, combine the plain flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, mixed spice, and a pinch of salt. Sift these dry ingredients into a separate bowl to remove any lumps, then set aside.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
In another large bowl, add the white sugar, soft dark brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients together until they are well combined.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Pour the vegetable oil into the wet mixture. Whisk again until the oil is fully incorporated and the mixture is smooth.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Gradually add the sifted dry ingredients to the wet ingredients mixture. Whisk until just combined, being careful not to overmix the batter.
⏱️ 2 min - 6
Gently fold in the freshly grated carrot and chopped walnuts (and any optional raisins or dried fruit/nuts). Mix until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Pour the carrot cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Use a spatula to spread the batter out evenly across the pan.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 35 minutes, or until the cake is firm to the touch when gently pressed. A skewer inserted into the center should come out clean.
⏱️ 35 min•🌡️ 180 - 9
Remove the cake from the oven and allow it to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. This will take at least 30 minutes, possibly longer.
⏱️ 30 min - 10
While the cake cools, prepare the cream cheese frosting. In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and icing sugar together for about 2 minutes until nicely combined and light.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Add the Philadelphia cream cheese, vanilla extract, and fresh lemon juice to the butter and sugar mixture. Whisk until the frosting becomes smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 3 min - 12
Chill the cream cheese frosting in the refrigerator for about 20-30 minutes before using. This helps it firm up for easier spreading.
⏱️ 20 min - 13
Once the carrot cake is completely cool, spread the chilled cream cheese frosting evenly over the top using a palette knife or spatula.
⏱️ 3 min - 14
Garnish the frosted cake with additional chopped walnuts and a little orange zest for color and flavor.
⏱️ 2 min - 15
Cut the carrot cake into squares and serve. Enjoy!
⏱️ 1 min