Moist four layer carrot cake, made with applesauce and topped off with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. A perfect cake for Spring celebrations.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that we lost power yesterday, just in time to fry a batch of wontons for dinner. It would figure that it would go out right then. Ten minutes earlier and I could’ve held off all together.

We had our first ever indoor toasted marshmallow event though! It was a hit with everyone and I highly recommend it, even if you have power! There’s no reason to wait until you loser power to enjoy an ooey gooey toasted marshmallow (with or without chocolate) and crisp graham crackers. The kids have already requested we do it again soon!

I mentioned recently that I made a cake for my dad’s birthday, this cake in fact. I knew a carrot cake would be a hit with everyone, especially after testing a single layer days earlier. My youngest took one bite and started jumping up and down, clearly he loved it! The test layer and the full layered cake was enjoyed by all and devoured!

You’ve probably noticed a big difference between my carrot cake and many others… no noticeable shreds of carrots! Stringy bits have NO BUSINESS in a slice of cake. Absolutely no large stringy pieces of carrots are allowed in my desserts, it ruins the texture and eating enjoyment for me. The trick is to finely shred and chop for good measure.

A super moist four layer carrot cake, sweetened with brown sugar and applesauce. Let’s not forget the essential cinnamon cream cheese frosting! It’s an absolute must.

This is guaranteed to be a new family favorite! Be sure to add this carrot layer cake to your Spring dessert plans!



Moist carrot layer cake with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. Made with applesauce! Recipe from @bakedbyrachel
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Carrot Layer Cake with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 12 hours 35 minutes
Yield: 20
Moist four layer carrot cake, made with applesauce and topped off with cinnamon cream cheese frosting. A perfect cake for Spring celebrations.

Ingredients
 

Cake:

  • 3 C carrots, finely shredded
  • 1 C applesauce
  • 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 C granulated sugar
  • 1/2 C light brown sugar
  • 3 C all purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Frosting:

  • 16 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 6 C powdered sugar

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. 
  • Grease and flour four 8-inch square cake pans, followed by parchment paper for the bottom of the pan. Set aside. 
  • Finely shred and chop carrots. 
  • In a large bowl, combine liquid ingredients. Add sugars, whisking until combined. Stir in carrots to combine. Add dry ingredients in several batches until well combined and no streaks remain. Divide batter between prepared cake pans. 
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5-10 minutes or until easy to handle. Transfer cake to a wire rack to cool completely. 
  • Wrap cakes well in plastic and chill for several hours or overnight. 
  • Prepare frosting: In a large bowl beat cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and cinnamon, followed by 1 cup of powdered sugar at a time until fully incorporated. 
  • If needed, level cakes prior to frosting. 
  • Place the bottom layer of your cake over strips of wax paper. Add a general portion of frosting to the top, followed by another layer of cake and repeat until all cake layers have been added. Add a thin coat of frosting to the top and sides of cake, sealing in any crumbs. Chill for 1-2 hours. Cover remaining frosting until ready to proceed. 
  • Add remaining frosting to top and sides of cake, using an offset spatula or bench scraper to smooth out sides and top. 
  • Chill cake until ready to serve. 

Notes

Recipe serves roughly 20, yields 1: 4-tire 8-inch cake.
*Firmer cakes frost easier. The longer the chill time, the easier the cakes will be to frost.
An original recipe from Baked by Rachel

Nutrition

Calories: 408kcal, Carbohydrates: 71g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 356mg, Potassium: 135mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 54g, Vitamin A: 3622IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 1mg
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most accurate data, use your preferred nutrition calculator with the actual ingredients you used to make this recipe.
Did you make this recipe?I'd love to see it! Snap a picture and tag @bakedbyrachel on Instagram!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cake