If you’re looking for the best carrot cake recipe, you’ve gotta try this Pineapple Carrot Cake! It’s moist, just the right amount of sweet and perfect for spring!
Let’s just get this out of the way.
My favorite cake is carrot cake. I’ll take it any day of the week over birthday cake or even double chocolate cake. Gasp!!
There’s something about the spice of the cinnamon, the earthy sweetness of the carrots and the lightness of the pineapple in this recipe that evoke all the right feels, you know???
And I’ve gotta give my Mom props for sharing this recipe with me. When my Dad heard I was making it, he knew what was coming down the pipeline and he promptly put in an order for a piece.
I was happy to deliver! 🙂
I made this carrot cake in a 9×13 pan for a few reasons. First, it’s easy to frost and to serve. And second, it’s easier to transport for special occasions.
You know, like Thursdays.
But you can certainly make this in to a fancy layer cake if you’d like.
How to make Pineapple Carrot Cake:
First, preheat the oven and grease your pan. Pretty basic stuff, right?
Then, in either your stand mixer or your handheld mixer, combine eggs, sugar & oil.
In a separate bowl, combine your dry ingredients.
Tip: This is a good time to set out your cream cheese and butter to soften, because it takes a while.
Add dry ingredients to your egg mixture and mix well to incorporate. Then, a cup or two at a time, add your pineapple, nuts and carrots. Mix it up and then pour it into your pan.
That’s it! Feel free to sniff the pan before you put it in the oven. There’s something about the spices that smells SOOOO GOOD!
When it’s done cooking, let it cool completely before you try to frost it. Melted frosting is not a good look.
How to make Cream Cheese Frosting:
I’ll warn you, this takes a pound of powdered sugar. Yep, you heard me right, a pound. But in the defense of powdered sugar, it does dissolve into practically nothing. Once you taste it, your worries will go right out the window!
Mix the cream cheese and butter until combined, then gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla.
Tip: Don’t dump in all at once unless you’re a fan of major kitchen cleanup.
Beat the ingredients until it’s smooth and easy to spread.
Be sure to take a teaspoon of two as a sample, just for quality control. You never can be too careful….
Recipe variations & tips for you:
- Add additional chopped walnuts to the top of the frosted cake, if desired.
- Add about 1/2 cup raisins to batter if you’d like.
- Substitute pecans for the walnuts
- Make the cake recipe into carrot cake cupcakes.
- When you cut the cake, drag the knife all the way through. This will keep crumbs from popping up and adhering to your frosting.
This pineapple carrot cake makes 15 generous sized servings.
As seen on The Country Cook
If you like this recipe, you’ll also love my Mom’s Apple Slab Pie, Mandarin Orange Cake and Scotcheroo Bars!
Easy Keto Egg Roll in a Bowl
A quick and low carb meal, Keto Egg Roll in a Bowl is a one pan dinner made with ground pork sausage, veggies and spices.
Ingredients
- 1¼ lb. spicy bulk pork sausage
- ¼ cup water
- 14 oz. package classic coleslaw mix with cabbage and carrots
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 2 Tbsp toasted sesame oil
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 2 Tbsp. green onions, chopped
- 1 Tbsp rice vinegar
- 2 Tbsp. coconut aminos or tamari , or soy sauce for non-keto
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds Optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking the meat into small pieces as it cooks, for approximately 5-6 minutes. Once sausage is no longer pink, remove from heat and carefully drain excess grease from pan. Safety Tip: Wipe off any excess fat that drips down the side of the pan before returning to burner.
- Return skillet to heat. Add water and scrape up brown bits from the bottom of the pan with a spatula. Reduce heat to medium and add coleslaw mix, garlic powder, sesame oil, ginger, and green onions. Season with salt and black pepper, to taste, and cook, stirring frequently, until the cabbage wilts and the carrot softens, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Add rice vinegar and coconut aminos and stir to combine. Cook another 1-2 minutes or until heated through. Remove from heat and transfer to a serving platter or bowl. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds, if using, and serve immediately. Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 368Total Fat: 31gSaturated Fat: 9gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 726mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 2gSugar: 2gProtein: 16g
What’s your favorite all time dessert? Tell me in the comments!
Pineapple Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
If you want the best carrot cake recipe, you've gotta try this Pineapple Carrot Cake! It's moist, just the right amount of sweet and perfect for spring!
Ingredients
Pineapple Carrot Cake:
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 cups shredded carrot , about 2 large
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup butter, softened, (1 stick)
- 1 pound powdered sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
Instructions
Pineapple Carrot Cake
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 pan.
- In a large mixer, combine the eggs, sugar and oil.
- Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl.
- Add dry ingredient to egg mixture and mix well.
- Gradually add carrots, pineapple and nuts and mix well. Pour into pan.
- Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- In a large mixer, mix cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add vanilla and powdered sugar, gradually. Beat until smooth and creamy and a good spreading consistency.
- Frost cake and enjoy!
Notes
Variations & Tips: Add additional chopped walnuts to the top of the frosted cake, if desired.
Calories 591 | Total Fat 31.9g | Saturated Fat 10.7g | Cholesterol 66mg | Sodium 352mg | Total Carbohydrate 73.9g | Dietary Fiber 1.6g | Total Sugars 58.4g | Protein 6.2g
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
15Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 591Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Recipe added to Meal Plan Monday
Sandhya Nadkarni
Friday 12th of April 2019
The cake looks so moist and yummy. I am in awe of your frosting skills as well. So beautifully done!
Deanne
Wednesday 17th of April 2019
Thanks so much!!
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
Friday 12th of April 2019
This sounds delicious! I think I'm going to have to make it for Easter!
Deanne
Wednesday 17th of April 2019
That sounds perfect, Val!!
Matt Ivan
Friday 12th of April 2019
Looks amazing! Perfect time of year for a carrot cake.
Deanne
Wednesday 17th of April 2019
Thanks and Absolutely!!
Pam Greer
Friday 12th of April 2019
Incredibly moist and so delicious! I love your tip about not dumping all the powdered sugar in at one time. That's a mistake you only make once!
Emily
Friday 12th of April 2019
Oh yum. This reminds me of the carrot cake that my grandmother used to make. Her's didn't have pineapple though, so I'm excited to try this one.