Carrot Cake Loaf

20 mins Prep Time

10 mins Cook Time

Written By

Robin Winship

Who doesn't love carrot cake and why do we only get to eat it on special occasions when a cake is necessary for celebrating. Tackling baking a cake is often cumbersome and nonsensical when you're living solo. The best way to enjoy carrot cake? The everyday loaf. Super easy to make, practical and packing all the exact great flavours cake does, carrot cake in loaf form is the way to go. Ideal paired with an espresso for a mid-afternoon pickup or nibbled on after dinner; this carrot cake loaf is your go-to weekday dessert when you feel like treating yourself.

Ingredients

Carrot Cake Loaf

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups grated carrots (packed down)
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup roasted walnuts, roughly chopped (plus more for garnish)

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 ounces plain cream cheese, room temperature
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Carrot Cake Loaf

6 Steps

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Step 2

In a medium bowl, whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg and salt together. Set aside.
Step 3

In a large bowl with an electric beater, in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in a large bowl with a whisk, cream the granulated sugar, brown sugar and oil together.
Step 4

Add the shredded carrots, eggs and roasted walnuts to the sugar and oil and mix. Add the flour mixture to your wet ingredients and mix thoroughly.
Step 5

Lightly oil a 9"x13" inch loaf pan. Cut a long rectangle of parchment paper and press down into bottom and on sides of loaf pan, leaving a bit of overhang so you can easily lift the loaf out.
Step 6

Bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean. Remove from oven, let cool in pan for 10 minutes and then lift loaf out and onto a wired rack to continue cooling.

Cream Cheese Frosting

2 Steps

Step 1

Cream the butter and cream cheese together in a medium bowl with an electric beater or in a stand mixer. Add the vanilla extract and powdered sugar (gradually) into the bowl and continue to beat until a light and fluffy frosting comes together.
Step 2

When the loaf has cooled completely, spread frosting on top of carrot cake loaf and top with more chopped walnuts.