You can now enjoy both your fruits and your veggies all in one serving … of cake. Call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure that information falls under the win-win category. And that is exactly where this easy recipe for Pineapple Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting should be filed.
If you hate really moist cakes, then we should probably part ways at this point. Because this cake has mastered a moist crumb with a dense texture and the full flavor of pineapple and carrots. And did I mention there’s no butter involved? That is, until we get to the tangy bowl-licking-worthy cream cheese frosting. But I couldn’t stop there. Someone cue the kitchen twine, candy melts, piping bags and pastry tips!
As it turns out, cutting a 9-by-13-inch cake into carrot-shaped pieces requires a strong understanding of geometry. Either that, or Tetris. So rather than start slicing away until you reach that “oh crud” moment, I’ve devised a nifty trick: Use kitchen twine to outline and adjust your cuts prior to slicing.
You can follow the pattern I’ve outlined above to get 10 carrot-shaped slices with a few scraps left over for your favorite taste tester. What’s that? Your favorite taste tester is you? Hey! We’re twins! Now go preheat your oven and get ready to flex those mental muscles for Pineapple Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting. It’s a workout for the mind and the body.
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Disclosure: There are Amazon affiliate links in this post.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 3 cups grated carrots
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple with juice
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
For the frosting:
- 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
For decorating:
- 1 1/2 cups orange candy melts
- 1 1/2 cups green candy melts
Equipment:
- Pastry bags; Small round pastry tip (such as Ateco #3)
Instructions
Make the cake:
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a 9x13-inch cake pan.
- In a large bowl, combine the grated carrots, flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Add the eggs, oil, vanilla extract, crushed pineapple and chopped pecans, stirring until combined. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Transfer the cake, still in the pan, to a cooling rack to cool completely then invert it onto a large cutting board.
Make the frosting:
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the cream cheese until smooth, scraping down the sides as needed. Add the butter and vanilla extract, beating until combined.
- Stop the stand mixer, sift the confectioners' sugar into the bowl and then beat just until combined.
Decorate the cake:
- Line a large baking sheet with wax paper. Melt the green candy melts in the microwave or on the stove per the package instructions then transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe carrot stems onto the wax paper by piping a long line with leaves on the end. (See Kelly's Notes.) Set the carrot stems aside to cool until they have fully hardened.
- Once the cake has cooled completely, frost it with the cream cheese frosting then slice it into carrot-shaped pieces. (See Kelly's Notes.)
- Melt the orange candy melts in the microwave or on the stove per the package instructions then transfer it to a piping bag fitted with a small round tip. Pipe the orange candy coating across the top of the cake slices in your preferred pattern, and then carefully insert about three of the hardened candy carrot stems into the back side of each slice of cake. (See Kelly's Notes.) Serve immediately.
Kelly's Notes:
- Cutting the 9x13-inch cake into carrot-shaped slices requires discarding (and/or eating) a small portion of the cake. If you'd rather feed more people and not have to discard any excess cake, simply cut the cake into squares and decorate as instructed.
- I used an Ateco #3 small round pastry tip to pipe both the green carrot stems and the orange decoration on top of the cake slices.
- The candy carrot stems break very easily when inserting them into the cake, so I recommend piping as many extra carrot stems as possible to allow for any breakage. You can also pipe a thicker carrot stem, which would make a sturdier candy piece to press into each slice of cake.
- ★ Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to give it a star rating below!
Nutrition
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Cake recipe adapted from All Recipes.
My only go to recipe. So good. I make without frosting or with.
The best carrot cake recipe out there period. Everyone asks me to sure this recipe who has tried it! Thank you
LOVE reading this, Sima! I’m thrilled you’ve been enjoying the recipe!
I made this two years ago and it was SO good and actually was easier than I expected for the cutting/decorating. Making it again this year for Easter cause I couldn’t stop thinking about it!
Woohoo! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Jaclyn, and I love that you’ll be making it again!
Loved this idea, and the decorating, if careful was a cinch! Icing is terrific! I found the cake to be too heavy and not very flavorful. I will definitely make this again, using your clever decorating ideas and excellent icing, but substitute my usual carrot cake recipe. Thanks very much!
Thanks for your feedback, Kris. I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy the carrot cake recipe.
Beautiful
Thank you!
The best ever! My family and friends love it!
I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Maria!
THIS IS THE BEST CAKE I HAVE EVER EATEN/MADE!!! EVERYONE AT MY CHURCH, MY JOB, MY HOME LOVES IT!!!
Woohoo! So glad to hear this, Mary!
Can this cake be baked as a layer cake in 8 or 9 inch pans and if so how long would I bake them?
Thank you
Absolutely, Linda! However, I’ve never made this recipe in a smaller pan so I’m not certain of the bake time. Let me know if you give it a shot!
This cake was dense and moist, and OMG that cream cheese frosting! Thanks for the recipe :)
I was planning on making these for Easter, but my concern is “serve immediately”, do I really need to? Or can I put them on a tray & allow our guest to serve themselves whenever?
Hi Susana! It totally depends on how long you’ll leave the cake out and what the temp is (if it’s indoors, outdoors, etc.). Cream cheese frosting can be a bit finicky if not kept in a cool environment!
Kelly, I want to thank you for your response, with all the comments/questions you must receive, it’s certainly very nice of you to take the time to respond.
They’ll be set up indoors – I’d like to make them the night before as in right before bed in efforts of keeping them as fresh as possible. Another question (sorry): is there anything you recommend I do or store them in to keep them fresh?
Thanks again!
Hi Susana! I’d keep the cake in the fridge then slice and add the decorations on the morning of. Enjoy!
Hello, how are you? I had feature your delicious recipe in my blog, I hope you don’t mind. Have a nice day!
Thanks so much!
cake looks great but cake tastes like you eating oil.
Hi Helen! I just re-tested the recipe and adjusted the oil to the right amount (1/2 cup). Enjoy!
Hello can I do cupcakes and…can it be frozen? Before I frost thank you
Absolutely, Donna! Definitely make sure the cupcakes have cooled completely before packaging them and stashing them in the freezer.