Spiced Carrot Cake

Before You Start

Grate the carrots on the fine side of a box grater. Food processor shreds are too coarse and stay crunchy.

Squeeze the pineapple properly — excess juice makes the centre sink.

The cake genuinely tastes better on the second day, once the spices have bloomed into the crumb.

Making Spiced Carrot Cake

Tap a step to highlight it, or turn on Cook Mode for large type and step-by-step focus.

1. Line and grease two 20 cm cake tins. Heat the oven to 175°C / 345°F.

   Mark done

2. Toast the walnuts on a tray for 8 minutes, then cool and chop.

   Mark done Start 8 min timer

3. Whisk the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and all the spices together.

   Mark done

4. In a large bowl, whisk both sugars with the eggs for 2 minutes until slightly thickened, then whisk in the oil and vanilla.

   Mark done Start 2 min timer

5. Fold in the dry ingredients until only just combined.

   Mark done

6. Fold through the grated carrot, drained pineapple and chopped walnuts.

   Mark done

7. Divide between the tins and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a skewer comes out with a few moist crumbs.

   Mark done Start 35 min timer

8. Cool in the tins 15 minutes, then turn out and cool completely.

   Mark done

9. Beat the butter for 3 minutes, add the icing sugar in two additions, then beat in the cold cream cheese, vanilla and salt on low for under a minute.

   Mark done Start 3 min timer

10. Sandwich and frost the cake, then finish with walnut halves around the edge. Chill 30 minutes to set before slicing.

    Mark done

Related guide: Prep, cook and total time.

Something wrong or unclear in this recipe? Report a problem with this recipe.

After You've Cooked It

Refrigerate 5 days covered; serve at room temperature. Unfrosted layers freeze 3 months.

Good With

• A cup of strong tea or coffee
• Serve for afternoon tea or as a birthday cake
• Follow a light meal

Common Questions About Spiced Carrot Cake

What's in a Serving

Per serving, calculated from the ingredient list with USDA FoodData Central figures (SR Legacy). A calculation, not a laboratory analysis: brands, cuts and how you measure change the real numbers. How the figures are worked out.