Wonderful Carrot Cake

Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Bake: 40 min. + cooling

Makes

24 servings

Updated: Apr. 16, 2022
This healthy carrot cake recipe is moist, tender and delicious. Kids will love it because it's sweet, and you'll love it because it's packed with good-for-you carrots. —Brenda Rankhorn, New Market, Alabama
Wonderful Carrot Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 3 cups finely shredded carrots
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
  • FROSTING:
  • 3 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon fat-free milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • Dash salt

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat sugars, eggs, oil, applesauce and vanilla until well blended. In another bowl, whisk flours, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice and baking soda; gradually beat into sugar mixture. Stir in carrots and walnuts.
  2. Pour into a greased 13x9-in. baking pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40-45 minutes. Cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
  3. For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese, milk and vanilla until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and salt; beat until smooth. Spread over top of cake. Top with additional walnuts, if desired. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts

1 piece: 223 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 30mg cholesterol, 183mg sodium, 36g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 1g fiber), 3g protein.