Sweet Magic: Ina Garten’s Dreamy Carrot Cake Recipe
Whipping up a delectable Ina Garten carrot cake recipe promises pure dessert bliss that will delight every sweet tooth.
Rich, moist, and wonderfully spiced, this cake delivers comfort in every single bite.
The carefully balanced blend of warm spices and fresh carrots creates a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.
Layers of cream cheese frosting add a luxurious smoothness that perfectly complements the cake rustic charm.
Each slice tells a story of classic baking mastery with a modern twist.
Professional baker Ina Garten has crafted a recipe that turns an ordinary dessert into an extraordinary culinary experience.
You’ll fall in love with this irresistible treat that brings joy to any gathering.
Serve Ina Garten Carrot Cake Beautifully
Elegantly Slice for Gatherings: Cut the carrot cake into neat squares, perfect for potlucks, family reunions, or casual dinner parties. Arrange slices on a beautiful platter to impress guests.
Pair with Creamy Companions: Serve alongside a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream to enhance the cake's rich, spiced flavors. The cool, smooth texture complements the cake's warmth.
Create a Rustic Dessert Spread: Accompany the carrot cake with a cup of hot coffee or chai tea. Add a small side of fresh berries or a drizzle of caramel sauce for extra indulgence and visual appeal.
Elevate with Garnish Magic: Sprinkle additional chopped pecans or a light dusting of cinnamon on top of each slice. This adds texture, visual interest, and reinforces the cake's delicious nutty undertones.
Save and Store Ina Garten Carrot Cake Leftovers
Refrigerate Wisely: Store the frosted carrot cake in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor preservation.
Freeze for Later: Wrap individual cake slices or the entire cake tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for up to 3 months, allowing you to enjoy this delightful dessert anytime.
Room Temperature Tips: Keep unfrosted cake layers at room temperature for 1-2 days, covered with a clean kitchen towel to maintain moisture and prevent drying out.
Frosting Care: Separate the cream cheese frosting from the cake if storing for longer periods, applying it just before serving to maintain the perfect texture and prevent sogginess.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Calories: 570 kcal
Servings: 12
All You Need for Ina Garten Carrot Cake
For Base and Moisture:
Sugar: Adds natural sweetness and helps create a tender cake texture.
Vegetable Oil: Creates incredible moisture and ensures a soft, rich cake crumb.
Eggs: Binds ingredients and provides structural support for the cake.
For Dry Ingredients and Spices:
All-Purpose Flour: Provides essential structure and foundation for the cake.
Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Creates perfect rise and lightness in the cake.
Ground Cinnamon: Delivers warm, aromatic spice that complements carrot flavor.
Salt: Enhances overall flavor complexity and balances sweetness.
For Texture and Flavor Boosters:
Grated Carrots: Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and vibrant orange color.
Vanilla Extract: Brings depth and rounds out the cake's flavor profile.
Chopped Pecans: Introduces delightful crunch and nutty undertones.
Butter: Provides rich, creamy base for frosting with luxurious mouthfeel.
Confectioners' Sugar: Smooths and sweetens frosting, ensuring perfect consistency.
Tools Used in Ina Garten Carrot Cake Recipe
Electric mixer: Essential for blending cake batter and creating smooth frosting.
Large mixing bowls: Perfect for combining ingredients and mixing wet and dry components.
9×13-inch baking pan: Ideal size for preparing the entire carrot cake.
Spatula: Helps smooth batter in the pan and spread frosting evenly.
Toothpick: Crucial for checking cake doneness by testing center.
Wire rack: Allows cake to cool completely after baking.
Grater: Used for shredding fresh carrots for the cake.
Measuring cups and spoons: Ensure accurate ingredient measurements.
How to Bake Ina Garten Carrot Cake Easily
Sweet Southern Comfort
Cake Preparation A cozy kitchen ritual that transforms simple ingredients into a delightful dessert. Gather your baking tools and warm up the oven to create magic.
Mixing Magic Blend sugary sweetness with rich oils, cracking eggs and splashing vanilla into a creamy dance. Whisper in flour, spices, and a sprinkle of baking wonder to create a smooth batter.
Carrot Celebration Fold grated carrots and crunchy pecans into the mixture, giving your cake earthy texture and nutty depth. Each stir tells a story of home-style baking.
Baking Transformation Pour the luscious batter into a waiting pan, smoothing its surface with gentle care. Let the oven work its transformative power, turning raw ingredients into a golden masterpiece.
Cooling Patience Allow the cake to rest and settle, first in its warm pan, then on a cooling rack. Patience rewards you with a perfectly textured treat.
Frosting Fantasy Whip cream cheese and butter into a cloud-like frosting, dusting with powdered sugar and a whisper of vanilla. The pecans add a delightful crunch to the creamy canvas.
Final Flourish Lovingly spread the frosting across the cooled cake, creating a sweet masterpiece that speaks of comfort and joy.
Tips for Switching Up Ina Garten Carrot Cake
Helpful Tips & Tasty Twists
Add crushed pineapple or applesauce to the batter for an extra moist and tender cake that stays soft for days.
Experiment with warm spices like nutmeg, ginger, or cardamom to create a more complex and interesting taste profile that elevates the traditional carrot cake.
Swap pecans with walnuts, almonds, or macadamia nuts for a different crunch and unique nutty undertone that complements the sweet cake.
Decorate the cake with additional chopped nuts, a sprinkle of cinnamon, or even edible flowers to make your carrot cake visually stunning and more gourmet.
Store the unfrosted cake wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months for convenient preparation ahead of time.
Ina Garten’s carrot cake recipe delivers a moist, spiced dessert packed with nuts and cream cheese frosting. Bakers can easily craft this classic treat that promises rich flavor and delightful texture for special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
4 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups white sugar
1.25 cups (10 fl oz / 296 ml) vegetable oil
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tsps ground cinnamon
2 tsps baking soda
2 tsps baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ tsp salt
8 oz (226 g) cream cheese, softened
½ cup (113 g / 4 oz) butter, softened
4 cups confectioners’ sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
Preheat Preparation: Ignite the oven to 350°F (175°C) and meticulously grease a 9×13-inch baking pan with butter, then dust with flour to ensure seamless cake release.
Batter Foundation: Harness an electric mixer to amalgamate granulated sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract, whipping until the mixture transforms into a silky, unified emulsion.
Dry Ingredient Integration: Gradually introduce flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and kosher salt into the wet mixture, stirring with precision to maintain the batter’s delicate structure without overmixing.
Texture Enhancement: Gently fold grated carrots and pecans into the batter, ensuring uniform distribution for a harmonious flavor profile and textural complexity.
Baking Process: Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the surface with a silicone spatula, then slide into the preheated oven and bake for 40 minutes, verifying doneness with a toothpick test.
Cooling Technique: Rest the cake in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack, allowing it to cool completely to room temperature before frosting.
Frosting Creation: Whip softened butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract using an electric mixer until achieving a luxuriously smooth consistency, then fold in chopped pecans for added crunch.
Final Assembly: Once the cake has cooled entirely, lavishly spread the pecan-infused frosting across the entire surface, creating a decadent, even layer that promises a delightful culinary experience.
Notes
Measure Precisely: Use exact measurements for flour, sugar, and spices to ensure the perfect cake texture and balance of flavors.
Room Temperature Matters: Bring eggs and cream cheese to room temperature before mixing to create smoother, more evenly incorporated batter and frosting.
Grate Carrots Fresh: Hand-grate carrots just before mixing to maintain maximum moisture and prevent excess liquid from affecting the cake’s consistency.
Avoid Overmixing: Stir dry ingredients into wet components just until combined to prevent a tough, dense cake texture.
Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning
Education
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Diploma: Grand Diplôme®
Focus: Intensive training in classic French cuisine and pastry techniques, combining the Diplôme de Cuisine and Diplôme de Pâtisserie.
Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.
At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.
Isabella Rodriguez
Co-Founder & Content Creator
Expertise
Pastry Arts and Dessert Innovation, French and European Baking Techniques, Food Writing and Blogging, Culinary Event Planning
Education
Le Cordon Bleu Paris
Isabella Rodriguez is the co-founder and pastry chef at wd-50.com. She studied at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, where she earned the Grand Diplôme®, a top award in both cooking and baking. After working in fancy bakeries and as a personal pastry chef, Isabella now shares her love for desserts in an easy way for home bakers to enjoy.
At wd-50.com, Isabella creates recipes for cookies, cakes, tarts, and more, always with clear steps and helpful tips. She believes baking should be fun, not stressful, and she hopes her recipes bring joy to your kitchen and smiles to your table.