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Moist and flavorful Carrot Loaf Cake
An easy and delicious loaf cake loaded with flavor.
Carrots and crushed pineapple, cream cheese and nuts are the base ingredients for a wonderful, moist and simple Carrot Loaf Cake. We all love a good loaf cake and especially love how easy they are to bake.
No need to worry about level layers and icing crumb-coats. It’s true, and widely known, that layer cakes are my nemesis leaving me to store-bought creations for my children’s birthdays and celebrations.
However, over the years they’ve forgiven me this inadequacy and settled for cupcakes and pies instead. Since cakes have never been my most successful recipes, this just proves that anybody can make this simple cake.
This is a worry-free, moist and full-flavored Carrot Loaf Cake made without any fuss at all.
Most important, use the freshest carrots you can find so they’re not dried out and flavorless.
Baking is always better when you use fresh ingredients. I replace my baking powder and baking soda a few times a year, but especially before holiday baking. That may be a tad-bit wasteful, but so is making an entire recipe that flops because the baking powder lost it’s zip!
Carrot cake is not the same without the classic smear of cream cheese icing and a few chopped pecans.
For this recipe I didn’t add raisins and nuts to the cake batter. However, feel free as they’re a wonderful addition to carrot cake!
We have new neighbors moving in and this will be the perfect “welcome to the neighborhood” treat. Without knowing if they have food allergies, I thought it best to leave out the tree nuts. This recipe makes two cakes so you can serve one now and freeze one for later.
Make a small batch of icing when ready to serve the extra cake.
The crushed pineapple really works well combined with the carrots.
The pineapple is just enough to lightly sweeten the batter without overpowering the flavor. Be sure to use crushed pineapple packed in 100% juice – not syrup. No sugar overload here!
Easy, delicious Carrot Loaf Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
Loaded with cinnamon and other warm spices folded into a moist and tender cake. It’s hard to beat!
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Carrot Loaf Cake
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup light brown sugar lightly packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups shredded carrots (about 7-8 small to medium)
- 8 ounce can crushed pineapple in juice (do not drain)
For the frosting:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese room temperature
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
- dash of salt
- ¼ cup chopped toasted pecans for garnish (optional)
Instructions
To prepare the cake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray (or grease) two small 8.5" x 4.5" loaf pans and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and salt.
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together the brown sugar and granulated sugar, vegetable oil, eggs and vanilla extract. Break up any clumps of brown sugar and whisk until smooth.
- Add the crushed pineapple with juice, and the grated carrots. Blend together using a spatula.
- Add the flour mixture and fold together just until combined.
- Divide the batter between the two prepared pans. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Check using a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake. Moist crumbs are okay but it should not come out wet.
- Cool for 30 minutes in the pan, then remove to a wire rack to cool completely before icing.
To prepare the icing:
- To make the icing, combine the powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla bean paste, and salt in a medium bowl. Beat on low until the icing is smooth. Add 1 teaspoon of milk or ¼ cup additional confections sugar if needed for desired consistency. Sprinkle with chopped, toasted pecans and serve.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Recipe Notes
- Add 2/3 cups currants or raisins and 1/2 cup chopped nuts to the batter if desired.
- Makes 2 loaf cakes. Freeze before icing if desired.
- The icing recipe makes enough for both cakes. If freezing one cake, half the recipe or frost one entire cake (top and sides) then add chopped pecans to the sides.
Maria says
This recipe was fabulous, just as it’s written. I increased the proportions as my loaf pan was a bit bigger. I like how the recipe allows you to increase the serving numbers and does the calculations for you – thank you!!!! The cake is so moist, I think because of the pineapple. While better with the icing, it’s fine without.
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Maria! I’m thrilled you enjoyed this simple loaf cake. Happy baking!
Sara says
Carrot cake is my husband’s all time favorite cake, he will be so happy when I make this for him!
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Sara – hope he loves it too!
Monica says
I do love a loaf cake. They are usually so moist and satisfying. I really want to try this carrot cake with the crushed pineapple and juice…sounds like a great idea. I usually prefer savory for breakfast but looking at this beauty, I wish I could have it tomorrow morning with a cup of coffee.
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Monica! This is a keeper when you need a good thank you gift or welcome to the neighborhood kind of gift. It also makes a wonderful family dessert – hint hint. Have a beautiful week!
Pam says
I knew I shouldn’t stop here, carrot cake is my fave and I love that this is a loaf cake! I wish I was your lucky neighbor. Love that you did the meteor thing! We’re in the Chicago ‘burbs and way too much ambient light to see anything.
Tricia Buice says
Haha Pam! You are so sweet – thanks very much for stopping by!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
First … love this loaf cake! I absolutely can’t be trusted around a carrot cake (but I make them anyway, I just make sure there are lots of other eats around 🙂 This looks perfect. We have beautiful dark skies here (perk of living in the bush), but when the meteor shower was at it’s peak, we had cloudy nights two nights in a row. Going to go check them out now that it’s cleared. Probably not as nice, but might see a few.
Tricia Buice says
By the time we got to the mountains it was past the peak for the meteors but we saw a few anyway. Such fun to get outside every now and then. Have a lovely week!
Katherine | Omnivore's Cookbook says
Lucky neighbors to have received this beautiful cake. Thanks for sharing your recipe to us through here just the same! Something that I’d definitely try sooner than later!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks so much Katherine – hope you enjoy!
sippitysup says
You’re right many a cake has underperformed because of poor leavening! Not this beauty however. GREG
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Greg – hope all’s well out west!
Becky Green says
This is one recipe my husband will LOOOOOVE, FOR SURE! THANK YOU TRICIA!!! Your “field trip” sounds like FUN!!! SLEEP WELL today!! 😉
Tricia Buice says
I bet he’s going to like it Becky!
Angie@Angie's Recipes says
I love to add pineapples to my carrot cake too. This looks really super!
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Angie – I’ll have to come and check your recipe out!
Mandy says
I have a winner of a recipe but think yours will take the cake with the addition of pineapple!
Have a beautiful day Tricia.
🙂 Mandy xo
Tricia Buice says
Thanks Mandy – maybe you could try adding pineapple to your recipe – I love the extra little chunks – so soft and sweet!
Gerlinde @ Sunnycovechef says
I didn’t see the meteor shower here on the foggy Pacific coast. I love your cake Tricia, it makes me want to have a slice right now before I go to bed.
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Gerlinde! Have a lovely week
sue | theviewfromgreatisland says
I thought about the shower while I was walking my dog, but didn’t see much! This carrot cake is MUCH more exciting 🙂
Tricia Buice says
The meteors don’t show up very well when there are the lights of the big city! This cake is a winner Sue 🙂 Thanks – have a great week!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
LOL, we’re both so buried in work lately that we completely missed out on the meteor showers except for a brief moment in which we could barely stay awake!
Now this cake is simply a marvel in flavour combinations and I love that it’s not difficult to make. It looks so moist and delicious!
Is that your new countertop, Tricia? Could the renovation nightmare be over? ! Looks beautiful 🙂
Tricia Buice says
Hi Robyn! The cake is easy – we can all make this one 🙂 Yes that is our new black granite countertops. But no, there is still more to do including paint, replacing one of the cabinets that arrived damages, adding toe plate at the bottom, more trim work and lots and lots of paint. I got so tired of them in my house I told them I would do the painting. I want this to be over – haha. We are also renovating the half bath and haven’t gotten very far. We lost steam on this project. Yuck! Thanks so much for asking and I hope you and your husband have a quiet week where you can catch up on work, projects and rest!
Monique says
No night shots for me:)
Looking forward to yours..
However my tried and true carrot cake recipe has crushed pineapple:)
Everyone loves it..do you watch the Great British Baking Show?
Ian made one ..well 5..last night on the finale..
Tricia Buice says
I was looking through my photos a little while ago Monique, and see that I got two or three with small meteors – yeah! I will have to go check out your recipe but I’ve never heard of the Great British Baking Show. I don’t think we get that here. Did Ian have pineapple in his too? How fun!
cheri says
Carrot cake is one of my favorite of all cakes, love the icing. So thoughtful of you to welcome your new neighbors with this beauty of a cake. How lucky of them to live so close to you…….Take care!
Tricia Buice says
Hi Cheri! Southern ladies always gift baked goods – such a nice traditional way to welcome new neighbors. I hope they still like us after our dogs barks at them every time they go in the backyard 🙁 Ha! Now you know why I had to make a good first impression 🙂
Chris Scheuer says
I hope you had some of this wonderful carrot cake left when you arrive home from your star studded adventure! It would have been a great incentive to stay awake. It looks so moist and that icing is definitely the crowning glory, yum!
Tricia Buice says
Thank you Chris! We had to get this cake out of the house – it’s the kind that calls your name from the kitchen. Have a lovely week!
sandra says
Yes chris. Looks very tempting.