Baked Spiced Carrot Cake with Orange Zest

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-24 · Updated 2026-04-24

Moist carrot cake spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, brightened with orange zest and cream cheese frosting. This American-inspired Easter recipe, ready in about 80 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup orange zest
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup orange juice

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
2. Step 2: Whisk 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp salt in a medium bowl.
3. Step 3: Beat 1 cup vegetable oil and 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar in a large bowl until smooth. Add 2 eggs and beat until combined. Stir in 2 cups grated carrots, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, and 1/4 cup orange zest.
4. Step 4: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
5. Step 5: Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 45-55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. Step 6: For frosting, beat 8 oz cream cheese and 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter until smooth. Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract, then beat until creamy. Add 1/4 cup orange juice to adjust consistency.
7. Step 7: Cool cake completely, then spread frosting over the top.