Description
This Salted Caramel Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is rich, moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with a silky cream cheese frosting and buttery salted caramel drizzle. It’s the perfect easy dessert recipe for holidays, birthdays, family gatherings, or whenever you need comforting homemade dessert ideas. The soft carrot cake crumb combined with tangy frosting and sweet caramel creates an irresistible bakery-style treat that tastes even better the next day. Whether you are searching for easy cake recipes, homemade dessert ideas, or crowd-pleasing desserts, this recipe delivers incredible flavor in every bite.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups freshly grated carrots
1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
3/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons heavy cream
1/2 cup salted caramel sauce
Sea salt flakes for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan thoroughly.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
3. Whisk the brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until smooth.
4. Fold the grated carrots and crushed pineapple into the wet ingredients.
5. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until just combined.
6. Fold in the chopped pecans or walnuts.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly.
8. Bake for 35 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
9. Allow the cake to cool completely.
10. Beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
11. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract and mix until fluffy.
12. Add heavy cream if needed for a smooth frosting texture.
13. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled cake.
14. Drizzle salted caramel sauce over the frosting.
15. Garnish with sea salt flakes if desired.
16. Chill for 30 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
Freshly grated carrots provide the best moisture and texture for this cake.
Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
Refrigerating the cake before slicing creates cleaner and more even pieces.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 580
- Sugar: 46g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 78mg
Keywords: salted caramel carrot cake, carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, easy dessert recipe, homemade cake recipe, holiday dessert, moist carrot cake, easy cake recipe, dessert ideas