King Arthur Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-09 · Updated 2026-06-09

Moist carrot cake enriched with warm spices and chopped walnuts, topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting for a perfect classic dessert. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 65 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 420 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 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup, packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 8 oz, softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup, softened unsalted butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon 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. Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp salt.
2. Step 2: In a separate bowl, beat 1 cup vegetable oil with 1 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar until combined. Add 3 large eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Stir in 2 tsp vanilla extract.
3. Step 3: Gradually fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in 3 cups grated carrots and 1 cup chopped walnuts.
4. Step 4: Divide batter evenly between the prepared pans and bake for 35-40 minutes until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
5. Step 5: Cool cakes in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire racks to cool completely.
6. Step 6: For frosting, beat 8 oz softened cream cheese with 1/2 cup softened unsalted butter until smooth. Gradually add 3 cups powdered sugar and 1 tbsp lemon juice, beating until fluffy.
7. Step 7: Spread frosting evenly between layers and over the top and sides of the cooled cake.