Are you on the hunt for the ultimate carrot cake recipe? The kind that is impossibly moist, perfectly spiced, loaded with delicious texture in every single bite, and slathered in a rich, tangy, and completely irresistible cream cheese frosting? This incredible, from-scratch Carrot and Pineapple Cake is that legendary recipe.
This isn’t just a recipe; it’s your definitive guide to mastering a true American classic. We’ll show you the simple secrets to an unbelievably moist and tender crumb (hint: it’s the oil and the pineapple!) that stays fresh for days. From the perfectly balanced spice blend to the velvety cream cheese frosting, this is the foolproof, step-by-step guide that will have you creating a spectacular, two-layer masterpiece worthy of any celebration.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Moist & Flavorful Cake
What makes this Carrot and Pineapple Cake truly “the best” is its incredible, long-lasting moisture and its wonderful complexity of flavors and textures. This is an oil-based cake, which is the number one secret to an incredibly moist and tender crumb that will not dry out. The brilliant addition of diced fresh pineapple adds a bright, tangy sweetness and even more moisture, making the cake unbelievably delicious. Loaded with freshly grated carrots, crunchy walnuts, and chewy raisins, and finished with a classic, tangy cream cheese frosting, this is a show-stopping cake for birthdays, Easter, or any special occasion.
| Metric | Time / Level |
| Total Time | 2 hours (plus cooling time) |
| Active Prep Time | 25 minutes |
| Difficulty Level | Easy |
| Servings | 12-16 |
The Essential Ingredients for a Perfect Cake
This recipe is made from two perfect, from-scratch components.
- The Incredibly Moist Cake:
- Vegetable Oil: Using a neutral oil instead of butter is the key to an unbelievably moist cake with a wonderfully tender crumb that stays perfectly fresh for several days.
- Fresh Pineapple & Carrots: It is crucial to use freshly grated carrots and diced fresh pineapple. Fresh ingredients have a much higher moisture content and a brighter flavor than their canned or pre-shredded counterparts. The pineapple, in particular, adds a wonderful tanginess and incredible moisture.
- The Mix-Ins (Walnuts & Raisins): A classic combination that adds wonderful texture. The chopped walnuts provide a lovely, earthy crunch, while the raisins add a sweet, chewy bite.
- Room Temperature Eggs: It is important that your eggs are at room temperature. This allows them to blend more easily into the batter, creating a smoother, more uniform emulsion and a better final texture.
- The Classic Cream Cheese Frosting: The rich, sweet, and tangy crown of our cake.
- Room Temperature Ingredients: This is the non-negotiable secret to a perfectly smooth, creamy, and lump-free cream cheese frosting. Your full-fat, block-style cream cheese and your unsalted butter must both be fully softened to room temperature before you begin.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Also known as powdered sugar, this is used to sweeten and thicken the frosting. Sifting it first is a great way to ensure an ultra-smooth final texture.
Step-by-Step to the Best Carrot Cake
This is a rewarding baking project. Follow these detailed steps for a perfect, show-stopping result.
Part 1: Prepare the Pans and Dry Ingredients
Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously butter two 8-inch round cake pans. Line the bottom of each pan with a circle of parchment paper, and then butter and flour the pans.
Step 2: In a medium bowl, sift together the 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour, the 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon, the 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and the 1 1/2 teaspoons of kosher salt.
Step 3: In a separate small bowl, toss the 1 cup of raisins and the 1 cup of chopped walnuts with the remaining 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour.
Pro Tip: This is a classic baker’s trick! The light coating of flour prevents the heavy mix-ins from sinking to the bottom of the cake batter during baking, ensuring they are evenly distributed throughout each slice.
Part 2: Create the Moist Cake Batter
Step 1: In the large bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the 2 cups of granulated sugar, the 1 1/3 cups of vegetable oil, and the 3 large room temperature eggs together until the mixture is a light yellow color. Beat in the 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract.
Step 2: With the mixer on a low speed, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until they are just combined and a smooth batter is formed.
Pro Tip: The secret to a tender cake is to not overmix the batter after the flour has been added.
Step 3: Using a spatula, gently fold in the 1 pound of grated carrots, the 1/2 cup of diced fresh pineapple, and the flour-coated raisins and walnuts.
Step 3: Bake the Cake Layers
Divide the finished cake batter evenly between your two prepared cake pans.
Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, or until a wooden skewer or a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack.
Part 4: Whip Up the Classic Cream Cheese Frosting
While the cakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. In the large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or in a large bowl with a hand-held mixer, beat the 3/4 pound of softened cream cheese, the 2 sticks of softened unsalted butter, and the 1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract on low speed until they are just combined.
Add the 1 pound of sifted confectioners’ sugar and continue to mix on low until the sugar is incorporated. Then, increase the speed to high and beat for about 5 minutes, until the frosting is very light and fluffy.
Part 5: Assembling and Frosting Your Masterpiece
Step 1: Once your cake layers are completely cool, you can begin to frost your cake. Run a knife around the edges of the cakes to loosen them and carefully invert them from the pans.
Step 2: Place one cake layer, with the flat-side facing up, in the middle of a rotating cake stand or a serving platter.
Step 3: Using a palette knife or an offset spatula, spread a generous, even layer of the cream cheese frosting over the top of the first cake layer (about 1/3 of the frosting).
Step 4: Carefully set the second cake layer on top, with the rounded-side facing up. Cover the entire cake—the top and the sides—with the remaining frosting, using your spatula to create a beautiful, smooth, or rustic swirled finish.
Step 5: For a beautiful, simple decoration, you can garnish the top and sides of the cake with the 1/2 cup of diced fresh pineapple.
The Best Moist Carrot and Pineapple Cake (Easy Recipe!)
A classic, moist two-layer carrot cake with the addition of sweet fresh pineapple, raisins, and walnuts. The cake batter is made with vegetable oil for a tender crumb and is lightly spiced with cinnamon. The recipe also includes instructions for a rich, from-scratch cream cheese frosting made with butter and confectioners’ sugar. The finished layer cake is generously frosted and decorated with more diced pineapple.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Total Time: 3 hours 30 minutes (includes cooling time)
- Yield: 10–12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- For the Cake:
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
- 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 pound carrots, grated
- 1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple
- For the Frosting:
- 3/4 pound (12 ounces) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted
- For Decoration:
- 1/2 cup diced fresh pineapple
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
- Make the Cake: In the bowl of an electric mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together. Add the vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, sift together 2 1/2 cups of flour, the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
- With the mixer on low, add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients until just combined.
- In a small bowl, toss the raisins and walnuts with the remaining 1 tablespoon of flour. Fold the raisins, walnuts, grated carrots, and diced pineapple into the cake batter.
- Divide the batter equally between the two prepared pans. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool completely in the pans on a wire rack.
- Make the Frosting: In the bowl of an electric mixer, mix the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla on low speed until incorporated. Add the confectioners’ sugar and mix on high speed for about 5 minutes, until light and fluffy.
- Assemble the Cake: Place one cake layer, flat-side up, on a serving platter. Spread the top with a layer of frosting.
- Place the second layer on top, rounded side up. Frost the top and sides of the entire cake with the remaining frosting.
- Decorate the top of the cake with diced pineapple.
Notes
- Tossing the raisins and walnuts with a bit of flour before adding them to the batter is a key step that helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cakes during baking.
- Using room temperature ingredients for both the cake batter (eggs) and the frosting (cream cheese, butter) is important for a smooth, well-incorporated final product.
- It is crucial to let the cake layers cool completely before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (1/12 of cake)
- Calories: 800-950
- Sugar: 90-110 g
- Sodium: 500-650 mg
- Fat: 45-55 g
- Saturated Fat: 16-22 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 95-115 g
- Fiber: 3-5 g
- Protein: 8-10 g
- Cholesterol: 120-150 mg
Storage and Make-Ahead Tips
A Carrot and Pineapple Cake is a fantastic dessert to make ahead for a party or a special celebration.
- Make-Ahead: You can bake the cake layers up to 2 days in advance. Let them cool completely, then wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store them at room temperature. The cream cheese frosting can also be made up to a week in advance and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Just be sure to let it soften at room temperature and give it a quick whip with your mixer to make it light and fluffy again before you frost the cake.
- Storage: The finished, frosted cake must be stored in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese frosting. It will stay fresh and delicious, covered, for up to 5 days. For the best flavor and texture, let the cake sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving.
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Creative Recipe Variations
- Use a Different Pan: This recipe is perfect for making a 9×13-inch sheet cake. The baking time will be slightly shorter, so start checking for doneness around 40-45 minutes. You can also make about 24-30 cupcakes, baking them for 18-22 minutes.
- Add Toasted Coconut: For a classic “Hummingbird Cake” style twist, you can add 1 cup of sweetened, shredded coconut to the batter along with the pineapple and carrots. Toasted coconut is also a beautiful garnish for the outside of the frosted cake.
- Make a Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting: For an even richer, nuttier, and more sophisticated flavor, you can brown the butter for the frosting first. Simply melt the butter in a light-colored saucepan and cook it until the milk solids turn a toasty brown and it smells nutty. Let the brown butter cool and re-solidify in the refrigerator to a soft, room temperature consistency before you use it in the frosting recipe.
Enjoy This Iconic Classic Cake!
You’ve just created a truly special, show-stopping dessert that is the very definition of a celebration cake. This classic, from-scratch Carrot and Pineapple Cake, with its moist, flavorful crumb and its rich, tangy frosting, is a rewarding baking project that is guaranteed to impress. It’s a timeless treat that makes any occasion feel special.
We hope you enjoy every last, perfect, and delicious slice!
If you enjoyed making this recipe, please leave a comment below or share it with a friend who loves a good, classic cake!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What is the absolute secret to a super moist carrot cake?
This recipe has two main secrets! The first is using vegetable oil as the primary fat. Oil is 100% liquid fat, which results in a cake with a much moister and more tender crumb than a butter-based cake. The second secret is the addition of diced fresh pineapple, which adds a huge amount of natural moisture and a wonderful, tangy flavor to the cake.
Q2: Can I use canned, crushed pineapple instead of fresh?
You can, but you must drain it very, very well first. Canned pineapple has a much higher water content than fresh pineapple, and if you don’t drain it thoroughly, it can make your cake batter too wet and cause it to be dense or sink in the middle.
Q3: How do I keep my cream cheese frosting from being runny?
The two most important secrets are to use room temperature, block-style cream cheese and butter, and to use sifted confectioners’ sugar. Cold cream cheese is the number one cause of lumpy frosting. A runny frosting is often caused by using the “cream cheese spread” that is sold in a tub (which has a higher water content), or by not using enough confectioners’ sugar.
Q4: Can I make this cake ahead of time for a party?
Yes! This is a perfect make-ahead cake. The best method is to prepare the components separately and store them as directed in the “Make-Ahead Tips” section above. Then, you can have a fun, easy, and stress-free assembly just before your party, which will give you the freshest-tasting result with a perfect frosting texture.
Q5: Why do you toss the raisins and walnuts in flour before adding them to the batter?
This is a fantastic, classic baker’s trick! A light coating of flour helps to absorb some of the surface moisture from the mix-ins and gives them a little bit of “grip.” This is the secret that prevents heavy mix-ins like nuts and dried fruit from sinking to the bottom of the cake batter as it bakes, ensuring they are evenly and beautifully distributed throughout every single slice.