Carrot Cake Without Cream Cheese Frosting
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Looking for an alternative to cream cheese frosting for your carrot cake? Discover this delightful Carrot Cake Without Cream Cheese Recipe!
This elegant single layer cake combines carrots with a rich blend of spices, perfectly complemented by a simple vanilla icing instead of cream cheese frosting!
Sweet Simplicity.
This soft and moist carrot cake loaf is filled with freshly grated carrots and warm spices, topped with a smooth vanilla frosting instead of traditional cream cheese. A light, elegant twist on the classic carrot cake that’s easy to make and beautiful to serve. Sam x
Warmly Spiced – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice for cozy depth
Soft & Moist – made with yogurt, oil, and fresh carrot
Simple Vanilla Frosting – creamy, sweet, and delicately balanced
Watch how to make moist carrot cake
Ingredients you’ll need
- Flour – all-purpose flour forms the base and gives the cake a soft, tender crumb
- Baking powder & baking soda – help the cake rise and stay light
- Warm spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice create that classic carrot cake flavour
- Salt – enhances the spices and balances sweetness
- Oil – keeps the cake moist and tender without being heavy
- Yogurt – adds moisture, richness, and a subtle tang
- Eggs – bind the batter and provide structure
- Brown & granulated sugar – add sweetness and depth of flavour
- Vanilla extract – enhances the spice blend and adds warmth
- Carrots – freshly grated for natural sweetness and moisture
- Walnuts – add crunch and a nutty contrast to the soft crumb
- Powdered sugar – base for the smooth vanilla frosting
- Butter – adds richness and flavour to the frosting
- Milk – loosens the frosting to a spreadable consistency
- Vanilla extract – adds a sweet, aromatic finish to the icing
How to make carrot cake without cream cheese
Step 1: Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Set aside.
Step 2:Â In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, yogurt, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until smooth and well combined.
Step 3: Mix in the shredded carrot until distributed.Â
Step 4: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold until just combined.
Step 5: Fold in the chopped walnuts. Pour the batter into the loaf pan. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
Step 6: Pour in melted butter, milk, and vanilla into the sifted powdered sugar and whisk until smooth. Pour over cooled loaf and allow to set. Enjoy!
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If you enjoy this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐️ star rating and a comment review below. I love to hear what you think and it’s much appreciated. Thank you! Your email address will not be published. Sam x
Carrot Cake Without Cream Cheese Frosting
Ingredients
Method
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C). Line a 9 x 5-inch (23 x 13 cm) loaf tin with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium-sized mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Set aside.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, yogurt, eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until smooth and well combined.
- Add Carrots: Mix in the shredded carrot until distributed.
- Combine Mixtures: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and gently fold until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Add Walnuts: Fold in the chopped walnuts until evenly distributed through the batter. The mixture will be thick.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf tin and smooth the surface. Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
- Cool: Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Sift and Combine: Sift powdered sugar into a medium mixing bowl to remove lumps.
- Add Wet Ingredients: Pour in melted butter, milk, and vanilla. Whisk until the frosting is smooth, thick, and spreadable.
- Frost Cake: Spread the vanilla frosting evenly over the cooled carrot cake.
- Slice and Serve: Once the frosting has set, slice and enjoy.
It was a great recipe, but the icing came out very thick when I made it, so I added another tablespoon of milk. Then it was perfect!
Hi Faith, so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Great call on adjusting the milk and it sounds like you nailed the perfect icing consistency. Thanks for sharing! Kindest, Sam