Beautiful Rustic Carrot Cake Recipe

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If you are looking for a simple carrot cake recipe, I have you covered! It is so much easier to make than you might think.

I am also going to share with you the perfect (and simplest) carrot cake icing. You’re going to love it. I especially like that this is a round layered cake.

If you are on the hunt for more cake recipes, we have tons of them to share!

Let me show you how easy this one is to make.

First, let’s gather up your ingredients. Here is what you will need.

 

 

Ingredients for Carrot Cake 

  • 5 eggs
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 3/4 cup honey, raw honey is best
  • 2 3/4 cups unbleached flour
  • 1 T baking soda
  • 1/2 t table salt
  • 2 t ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup pecans, chopped
  • 2 1/2 cup grated carrots

The five eggs are part of what make carrot cake so dense.

You are going to love how these flavors all come together.

If you want, you can swap out the chopped pecans for chopped walnuts. Either one is super yummy!

Ingredients for Carrot Cake Icing 

  • 12 oz cream cheese, at room temperature 
  • 1 1/2 sticks of butter, at room temperature 
  • 1/4 cup honey, raw is best 
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans for garnish
  • 1/4 cup coconut flakes for garnish

 

How to Make Carrot Cake at Home 

First, preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Heat up the honey in microwave for 30 seconds. This will allow it to blend well. Then let it cook so it does not cook the eggs when you mix it together. 

In a medium bowl cream together the eggs, oil, and honey.

In a separate bowl, combine your flour, salt, baking soda, and cinnamon.

Slowly, add the wet ingredients to your dry ingredients using a hand mixer or your standing mixer. Add about 1/4th of the wet mixture at a time, mixing well before adding then next 1/4th. Ensure everything combines well. 

Add in the grated carrots and mix well.

Now it’s time to fold in the pecans (or walnuts if that is what you decided to use). 

Now, let’s add it to the cake pans by dividing the batter in two 8” cake pans that you have greased and floured. 

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center. 

Once they are done, remove cakes from oven and let cool completely on a wire rack. 

While the cake is cooking, let’s make the icing.

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

In a medium bowl or your standing mixer, combine the cream cheese and butter. Mix until well combine. 

Now let’s add in the honey and vanilla. Mix to combine well. 

Now let’s add in the powdered sugar to thicken the icing up. 

How to Add a Rustic Look to Your Carrot Cake Using Homemade Cream Cheese Icing 

Once the cake layers are cool grab a cake plate or cake stand. Place one of the 8” cakes and add a layer of icing.

Add enough icing that some naturally pours over the sides of the cake without making a mess. It should be thick.

Add the second cake layer on top and spread icing evenly allowing some of the icing to drip down the side of the cake. 

We garnished the cake with chopped pecans and coconut flakes only around the side. 

Slice, serve, and eat every last bite!

Why Carrot Cake Sinks in the Middle

Sometimes our carrot cakes will sink in the middle and this can be so frustrating.

There are a couple of reasons this happens.

Either you did not let the cake finish cooking- it needed more cook time.

Or, you kept opening the oven door while it was cooking. This can be especially damaging to a cake if it has not set you. Each time you open the over door the cake looses heat and more cook time is added.

You added too much or not enough of one of the ingredients that causes the cake to rise (baking soda). Pay close attention and ensure you’re added the right amount of each ingredient.

How Long Will Carrot Cake Last 

You can keep this in the fridge, preferable in an air tight container, for up to a week.

After that, feel free to freeze it.


How to Freeze Carrot Cake 

You certainly can freeze your leftovers of the cake or freeze the entire cake.

Cover it in clear wrap and then in foil. It should keep well in your freezer for up to six months.

When you’re ready to defrost it you can either let it sit on the counter for 2-3 hours to let it defrost or stick it in the fridge to defrost overnight.

You can even refreeze it again as long as it’s not old and molding.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes 

You can use this same recipe to make carrot cake cupcakes instead. Use a traditional sized muffin tin pan and cupcake liners. Bake them for at 350 degrees for about 12-13 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted.


Beautiful Rustic Carrot Cake Recipe

Beautiful Rustic Carrot Cake Recipe

This beautiful rustic carrot cake recipe is absolutely divine, moist, and an easy cake recipe.

Ingredients

  • Cake ingredients:
  • 5 eggs
  • 3/4 cup olive oil
  • 3/4 cup honey, raw honey is best
  • 2 3/4 cups unbleached flour
  • 1 T baking soda
  • 1/2 t table salt
  • 2 t ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup pecans, chopped
  • 2 1/2 cup grated carrots
  • Icing ingredients:
  • 12 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 1 1/2 sticks of butter, at room temperature
  • 1/4 cup honey, raw is best
  • 1 t vanilla
  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup chopped pecans for garnish
  • 1/4 cup coconut flakes for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Microwave the honey in a small dish for 30 seconds then allow it to cool for 2 minutes.
  3. Combine the eggs, honey, and oil.
  4. In a separate bowl combine all the dry ingredients for the cake mix.
  5. Slowly add 1/4 of the wet mixture to the dry mix until all is used and it is well combined.
  6. Last add in the shredded carrots and pecans, mixing until combined.
  7. Pour an even amount of the cake mix into 2 8" cake pans.
  8. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until cake is completely cooked through.
  9. Allow the cakes to cool completely before icing.
  10. In a separate bowl, mix the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  11. Add in the honey and vanilla, mixing well. Then slowly add the powdered sugar. The icing will begin to thicken.
  12. Top the icing to the first layer of cake. Then add the second layer of cake.
  13. Frost the top and sprinkle with chopped pecans and coconut flakes.

One Comment

  1. Oh, how yummy this looks Crystal.
    Thank you for sharing your recipe at Create, Bake, Grow & Gather this week. I’m delighted to featuring your carrot cake recipe at the party tomorrow and pinning too.
    Hugs,
    Kerryanne

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