Spiced Carrot Cake Walnuts (Printable)

A moist, aromatic carrot cake with warm spices and crunchy walnuts, perfect for celebrations.

# What's Needed:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
06 - 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

→ Wet Ingredients

09 - 4 large eggs
10 - 1 cup granulated sugar
11 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
12 - 1 cup vegetable oil
13 - 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
14 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Add-ins

15 - 3 cups grated carrots (about 5 medium carrots)
16 - 1 cup chopped walnuts
17 - 1/2 cup raisins (optional)

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

18 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
19 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
20 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
21 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
22 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line a 9x13-inch pan or two 8-inch round pans with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves in a large bowl.
03 - Beat eggs, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until thick and pale. Incorporate vegetable oil, applesauce, and vanilla until smooth.
04 - Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined.
05 - Fold in grated carrots, chopped walnuts, and raisins if using.
06 - Transfer batter to prepared pan(s), smooth surface, and bake 40 to 45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Allow cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack and cool completely.
08 - Beat softened cream cheese and butter until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until smooth.
09 - Spread cream cheese frosting evenly over cooled cake. For layered cakes, apply frosting between layers and on top.
10 - Optionally, sprinkle additional chopped walnuts atop the frosted cake for decoration.

# Tips for Success:

01 -
  • The texture stays incredibly moist for days, thanks to the carrots and a touch of applesauce.
  • Warm spices create a cozy aroma that makes your kitchen smell like a bakery.
  • The cream cheese frosting is tangy and silky, balancing the sweetness of the cake perfectly.
  • Walnuts add a satisfying crunch in every bite, making each slice feel complete.
02 -
  • Grate the carrots finely so they blend into the batter instead of clumping, a box grater works better than a food processor for this.
  • Dont skip the applesauce, it keeps the cake moist without making it oily or heavy.
  • Let the cake cool completely before frosting, or the cream cheese will slide right off and pool at the bottom.
  • Sift the powdered sugar to avoid lumps in the frosting, even a few bumps ruin the smooth texture.
03 -
  • Toast the walnuts in a dry skillet for a few minutes before adding them to the batter, it deepens their flavor and makes them crunchier.
  • Use a kitchen scale to measure flour if you have one, it prevents a dense cake caused by packing too much into the cup.
  • If your frosting feels too soft, chill it for 10 minutes and beat it again, it will firm up and spread more easily.
  • Line your pan with parchment paper that hangs over the edges, you can lift the whole cake out like a sling for perfect slicing.

Go Back