This carrot cake has all the traditional carrot cake ingredients I remember growing up with in Texas – carrots, pineapple, and coconut which make the cake moist, fruity and deliciously unique.
The inspiration
I made this carrot cake for my daughter Rani’s 16th birthday celebration which in March. To make it extra special I baked it in a large bundt cake and covered it in cream cheese frosting which I then decorated with edible springtime flowers from my garden 🌸🌺🌸.
The cake was a big hit with Rani and her friends 😋👌. Not only does the cake look beautiful it is soft, moist and delicious.
About the recipe
This is the type of carrot cake I grew up with in Texas – made with fresh carrots, pineapple, and spices all doused in a cream cheese frosting. Having lived in California most of my life now, the carrot cakes I make lately are more wholesome, still delicious but not as decadent. Enter this nostalgic carrot cake from my days of growing up in Houston, Texas.
A simple recipe with delicious results. Just mix the dry ingredinets. In another bowl mix the wet ingredients including pineapple and carrots. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and bake. That’s it. Then make the cream cheese frosting and spread on the cake. Simple, easy, and delicious, give it a try!
Spring Carrot Cake
Ingredients for cake:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup shredded coconut
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 cup canola oil
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup crushed pineapple in can drained
- 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
- A traditional carrot cake usually has raisins and chopped walnuts in the batter but I left it out, however if you want to add them in go ahead and add 1/2 cup raisins and 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts.
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Butter a large bundt cake pan (capacity 10-15cup). Oil the pan and dust with flour.
- In a bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- In another bowl whisk together sugar, oil, vanilla and eggs until creamy. Add the shredded carrots, coconut and fresh ginger and mix-in.
- Combine the liquid mixture with the flour mixture until well incorporated.
- Pour the batter in the bundt cake pan and bake for 50-55 minutes until at toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Take out of oven and cool before taking the cake out of the pan. Let cool completely for 1 hour or more before frosting with cream cheese frosting.
For the cream cheese frosting:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 ounces cream cheese
- Whisk all ingredients together to form a creamy frosting.
Decorate the cake
- Spread cream cheese frosting around the carrot cake.
- Start to decorate with shredded coconut, and edible flowers. I used nasturtiums and pansy blossoms.
A delicious piece of sweet, moist carrot cake.
Movie, Dinner & Cake: Rani’s 16th birthday celebration.
At the movies 🍿🍿🎥
All dressed up for dinner!
Dinner at local Mexican restaurant Zona Rosa.
Let’s take some pictures while we are waiting 😊😊😊😊
Ending the night with carrot cake and candles 🎂 🍰😋
Springtime Carrot Cake
