Easy Carrot Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

By Maria Lichty

Updated March 26, 2019

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Easy Carrot Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting-This moist carrot cake is packed with carrots, pineapple, cinnamon, raisins and topped with a thick layer of caramel cream cheese frosting.

Spring is springing in Utah this week and I really hope it isn’t a teaser. I am done with the snow and I am ready for sunshine ALL the time! To celebrate our springy week, I made an Easy Carrot Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting. I am always looking for things to celebrate so I can eat dessert:) I think signs of spring call for cake, especially carrot cake. It is my favorite spring dessert.

Every Easter, I make my favorite Carrot Cake recipe. It is the traditional layered carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. It is my all time favorite carrot cake and a must make for Easter and special occasions.

Well, this week I decided to try a new carrot cake recipe because I saw Christina’s carrot cake recipe in her new cookbook, Sweet & Simple. I was craving carrot cake, but wanted a simple dessert. Christina’s recipe is made in an 8×8 pan and comes together in no time. And the caramel cream cheese frosting…SWOON!

This easy carrot cake is made with freshly grated carrots, crushed pineapple, cinnamon, and raisins. Christina’s recipe didn’t call for raisins, but I HAD to add them in. I couldn’t help myself, I love raisins. I know there are haters out there and that is fine, you can leave them out, I won’t be offended. The cake is super duper moist and let’s talk about the frosting, I am normally a cream cheese frosting purist when it comes to carrot cake, but the caramel addition was amazing! Christina uses melted caramel candies to create the caramel cream cheese frosting, but I had some of my favorite salted caramel sauce on hand so I used that. Holy frosting! I wasn’t sure the frosting was going to make it to the cake, I wanted to eat it by the spoonful!

This easy carrot cake was such a treat! It came together in no time and was the perfect size for our family and a few friends.

I love the Sweet & Simple cookbook because the desserts are scaled down to feed a few. Sometimes you don’t need a big layer cake or a million cookies. The recipes are guaranteed to cure your sweet tooth, but without a lot of fuss. Make sure you check it out! And make sure you make this Easy Carrot Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting to celebrate spring! It’s foolproof and so delicious!

If you like this Easy Carrot Cake Recipe, you might also like:

• Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies with Cream Cheese Glaze
• Morning Glory Muffins
• Carrot Cake Roll
• Carrot Cake Cheesecake Cake

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Vegetarian

Easy Carrot Cake with Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting

This no-fuss carrot cake is the perfect spring or anytime dessert. You will fall in love with the caramel cream cheese frosting, SWOON!

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 56 minutes mins

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  

For the Cake:

• 1/2 cup neutral oil canola, vegetable, or grapeseed
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs beaten
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup canned crushed pineapple drained
• 1 cup freshly grated carrot
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt I added the salt
• 1/4 cup raisins I added the raisins

For the Caramel Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 3/4 cup chopped caramel candies or ¾ cup salted caramel sauce  I used salted caramel sauce
• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square pan with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
• In a large bowl, stir the oil and sugar together with a spoon, don't use a mixer. Add the eggs, vanilla, pineapple, and carrots.
• In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the wet and stir until just combined. Gently fold in the raisins, if using.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 33-36 minutes or until cake is nicely golden brown and starting to pull away from the edges of the pan. Remove from the oven and let the cake cool completely.
• While the cake is cooling, make the frosting. If you are using the caramel candies, melt the caramel in the microwave with a splash of water, set aside. If you are using the salted caramel sauce, just stir it and set aside.
• With an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the melted caramel or salted caramel sauce and vanilla extract. Stir until frosting is smooth.
• Frost the cooled carrot cake with caramel cream cheese frosting. I like to drizzle a little extra salted caramel sauce over the top of the cake. Cut into squares and serve.
• Note-cover the cake and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can bring it to room temperature before serving or eat it cold. I like carrot cake cold:)

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