Easter Carrot Cake Walnuts (Printable)

Moist spiced carrot cake with crunchy walnuts and a smooth cream cheese frosting, perfect for celebrations.

# What You'll Need:

→ Dry Ingredients

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 teaspoons baking powder
03 - 1½ teaspoons baking soda
04 - 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
05 - ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
07 - ½ teaspoon salt

→ Wet Ingredients

08 - 1 cup granulated sugar
09 - ½ cup packed light brown sugar
10 - 1 cup vegetable oil
11 - 4 large eggs, room temperature
12 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

→ Vegetables & Nuts

13 - 2½ cups finely grated carrots
14 - 1 cup chopped walnuts

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

15 - 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
16 - ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
17 - 2½ cups sifted powdered sugar
18 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
19 - Pinch of salt

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully incorporated.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until combined. Do not overmix.
05 - Fold in grated carrots and chopped walnuts until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
06 - Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Smooth the tops with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 35–40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Let cakes cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until light and fluffy.
10 - Spread a layer of frosting on one cake layer, top with the second layer, then frost the top and sides completely.

# Expert Hacks:

01 -
  • The moisture from fresh grated carrots keeps this cake incredibly tender for days
  • That perfect balance of warm spices and crunchy walnuts makes every bite interesting
02 -
  • Cooling the cakes completely before frosting is non-negotiable, or you'll end up with a melty mess
  • Room temperature ingredients for both cake and frosting will make your life so much easier
03 -
  • Grate your carrots by hand using the finest holes on your box grater for the best texture
  • Wrap your cake pans with damp cake strips for perfectly level layers every time

Go Back