Carrot Cake Recipe from ATK

My dad’s birthday was recent, and to celebrate we got together for a fun pool party. However, the snow put a damper on the arrival time, and it took us an extra twenty minutes to travel a few miles. The snow was heavy, and we ended up with over 14-inches in under 12-hours! Because of my food allergies, I need to avoid anything pre-baked, so I made the cake. Specifically, this Carrot Cake with a homemade Cream Cheese Frosting.

Carrot cake on woo dcutting board

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Published April 28, 2023
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Another HUGE win from ATK

Since getting this cookbook from my MIL Christina many a years ago, SO many recipes have been cooked and baked from it that were complete wins. This recipe for a Carrot Cake and also Cream Cheese Frosting are both complete wins.

The cake is moist and scrumptious with a bold flavor.

Paired with the homemade cream cheese frosting that is light and fluffy, this Carrot Cake is an absolute win for any occasion. Check it out by clicking the link for Amazon below, and choose either the Hardcover copy or get it on the Kindle App.

Find these recipes for Carrot Cake and Cream Cheese Frosting both on page 755.

Cost

Below is the cost breakdown to make this cake.

2 1/2 cups Flour $0.37
1 1/4 tsp Cinnamon $0.07
1 1/4 tsp Baking Powder $0.06
1 tsp Baking Soda $0.03
1/2 tsp Salt $0.01
1/2 tsp Nutmeg $0.04
1/8 tsp Cloves $0.01
4 Eggs, room temperature $1.08
1 1/2 cups Sugar $0.43
1/2 cup Brown Sugar $0.14
1 1/2 cups Oil $0.72
1-pound Carrots $1.00
2 packages Cream Cheese $3.00
10 Tbsp unsalted Butter $1.20
2 Tbsp Sour Cream OR Greek Yogurt $0.12
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract $0.05
1/4 tsp Salt $0.01
2 cups Powdered Sugar $0.98

The total cost to make this recipe for Carrot Cake from the America’s Test Kitchen Cookbook is $9.32.

Birthday travels

This year, for my dad’s birthday, I made this Carrot cake. My brother, sister-in-law and two nephews met us and my parents at a hotel and played in the pool for the day.

With Wisconsin experiencing 6th winter, and us getting literally 14 inches of snow, we had to find a way to safely travel with the Carrot Cake. I have a nice cake stand, but not a travel-safe one.

Tupperware container and carrot cake

In the scramble to get out of the house, I was trying to find a cake carrier and saw a GIANT Tupperware container sitting in our storage room. It was resting upside down, and I had the brilliant idea to use that for the cake. So, the Carrot Cake went on the inside of the lid and the bowl went ON TOP of the cake. This made a safe cake carrier, and I was stoked!

Recipe

Ingredients for Carrot Cake

2 1/2 cups Flour
1 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 tsp Nutmeg
1/8 tsp Cloves
4 Eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 cups Sugar
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
1 1/2 cups Oil
1-pound Carrots
4 cups Cream Cheese Frosting

carrot cake ingredients

Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients

2 packages Cream Cheese
10 Tbsp unsalted Butter
2 Tbsp Sour Cream OR Greek Yogurt
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/4 tsp Salt
2 cups Powdered Sugar

Directions for Carrot Cake

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. Place the 9-inch springform pan on a piece of parchment paper and then cut it out.

trace springform base on parchment paper

3. Place the parchment paper circle into the bae of a 9-inch springform pan.

parchment paper added to pan base

4. Spray a 9-inch round Springform Pan and set aside.

spray springform pan with nonstick spray

5. In a medium bowl, measure and then add 2 1/2 cups Flour, 1 1/4 tsp Cinnamon, 1 1/4 tsp Baking Powder, 1 tsp Baking Soda, 1/2 tsp Salt, 1/2 tsp Nutmeg, 1/8 tsp Cloves and whisk well to combine.

Why use a sifter for the dry ingredients? To help eliminate any clumps and also to pre-mix the ingredients before whisking. This isn’t that important, however it can help to get rid of clumps that would otherwise not blend well into the batter.

sifter with clumps of dry ingredients

6. To the bowl of a KitchenAid mixer, measure and add the 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups Sugar and 1/2 cup Brown Sugar.

Whisk the ingredients until it is light and fluffy.

7. While mixing, SLOWLY add the 1 1/2 cups Oil until combined and emulsified.

8. Mix in half of the dry ingredients until combined.

Add the second half of the dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated.

9. On a cutting board, peel the carrots and then wash them in a sink colander.

10. Using a Cuisinart Food Processor, shred the carrots.

11. Add the carrots to the cake mixture in the KitchenAid mixer bowl.

12. Use a spatula to scrape down any dry bits to incorporate into the batter.

carrots mixed well into batter

13. Scrape the batter into the prepared springform pan.

batter in springform pan

14. Lightly tap the pan onto the countertop three times to settle the batter and remove any bubbles.
15. Bake the Carrot Cake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

baking in the oven

16. Remove the cake from the oven and let it rest to cool completely on a cooling rack, around 2 hours.

carrot cake resting in springform pan

17. Run a knife along the outside of the pan to release the cake from the pan.

cooled carrot cake and butter knife

18. Release the Carrot Cake from the springform pan and then rest it on the cooling rack.

cooled carrot cake and butter knife

19. Peel the parchment paper off the bottom of the cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting Directions

Let the Butter and Cream Cheese rest on the counter to soften.

butter resting on wood cutting board

In a medium bowl, add the 2 packages Cream Cheese, 10 Tbsp Butter, 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract, 2 Tbsp Greek Yogurt and 1/4 tsp Salt.
A few months ago I made Homemade Vanilla Extract. It is easy and SO delicious.

With a hand mixer, mix the ingredients until smooth, around 2-4 minutes.

mix cream cheese frosting ingredients in bowl

Measure and then add the 2 cups Powdered Sugar and mix on LOW until just combined, around 4-6 minutes.

add powdered sugar

When the dry is mixed in, beat an additional 4-6 minutes on medium-high speed.

cream cheese frosting

20. If desired, cut the cake in half with a serrated knife and then spread 1 cup of the Cream Cheese frosting on the cake.

21. Replace the top layer on the cake and then spread the frosting over the rest of the cake with an offset spatula.

Cut and serve!

carrot cake on wood cutting board

Recipe

Carrot Cake from ATK

Scrumptious recipe for Carrot Cake that is packed with flavors, cut into layers and frosted with a homemade cream cheese frosting.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Cooling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 55 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 1 9-inch cake

Equipment

  • 9-inch Round Springform Pan
  • KitchenAid Mixer
  • Cutting board
  • Sink Colander
  • Cuisinart Food Processor shredder blade
  • Spatula
  • Medium Bowl

Ingredients
  

  • 2 1/2 cups Flour
  • 1 1/4 tsp Cinnamon
  • 1 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/2 tsp Nutmeg
  • 1/8 tsp Cloves
  • 4 Eggs room temperature
  • 1 1/2 cups Sugar
  • 1/2 cup Brown Sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups Oil
  • 1 pound Carrot peeled, grated
  • 4 cups Cream Cheese Frosting

Cream Cheese Ingredients

  • 2 packages Cream Cheese softened
  • 10 Tbsp Butter unsalted, softened
  • 2 Tbsp Sour Cream OR Greek Yogurt
  • 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 2 cups Powdered Sugar 8-oz

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Place the springform pan on a piece of parchment paper and then cut it out.
  • Place the parchment paper circle into the bae of a 9-inch springform pan.
  • Spray a 9-inch round Springform Pan and set aside.
  • In a medium bowl, measure and then add 2 1/2 cups Flour, 1 1/4 tsp Cinnamon, 1 1/4 tsp Baking Powder, 1 tsp Baking Soda, 1/2 tsp Salt, 1/2 tsp Nutmeg, 1/8 tsp Cloves and whisk well to combine.
  • To the bowl of a KitchenAid mixer, whisk together the 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups Sugar and 1/2 cup Brown Sugar.
  • While mixing, SLOWLY add the 1 1/2 cups Oil until combined and emulsified.
  • Mix in half of the dry ingredients until combined, then mix in the rest of the dry ingredients until just incorporated.
  • On a cutting board, peel the carrots and then wash them in a sink colander.
  • Using a Cuisinart Food Processor, shred the carrots.
  • Add the carrots to the cake mixture in the KitchenAid mixer bowl.
  • Use a spatula to scrape down any dry bits to incorporate into the batter.
  • Scrape the batter into the prepared springform pan.
  • Lightly tap the pan onto the countertop three times to settle the batter and remove any bubbles.
  • Bake the Carrot Cake for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
  • Remove the cake from the oven and let it rest to cool completely on a cooling rack, around 2 hours.
  • Run a knife along the outside of the pan to release the cake from the pan.
  • Release the Carrot Cake from the springform pan and then rest it on the cooling rack.
  • Peel the parchment paper off the bottom of the cake.
  • If desired, cut the cake in half with a serrated knife and then spread 1 cup of the Cream Cheese frosting on the cake.
  • Replace the top layer on the cake and then spread the frosting over the rest of the cake with an offset spatula.
  • Cut and serve!

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • Let the Butter and Cream Cheese rest on the counter to soften.
  • In a medium bowl, add the 2 packages Cream Cheese, 10 Tbsp Butter, 1 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract, 2 Tbsp Greek Yogurt and 1/4 tsp Salt.
  • With a hand mixer, mix the ingredients until smooth, around 2-4 minutes.
  • Measure and then add the 2 cups Powdered Sugar and mix on LOW until just combined, around 4-6 minutes.
  • When the dry is mixed in, beat an additional 4-6 minutes on medium-high speed.
Keyword Americas Test Kitchen Carrot Cake, Carrot Cake, Carrot Cake Recipe, Dessert, Dessert for under $10, Homemade Carrot Cake

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Published by Monica's Scratch Kitchen

I have not always had the skills to cook and bake from scratch. As a young wife, I bought every meal frozen or boxed and presented it to my husband with a flourish, believing myself a decadent cook. As our budget shrunk, and our family grew, I looked for ways to stretch our money to nourish our kids with the best for their hungry appetites. Hoping to find recipes and meals that they would love to eat. Through the last 5 years, I have learned so many cooking and baking lessons, and experienced many wins and failures. Come along with me on this journey as I share my recipes that work, how to make them on the cheap, and my tips and tricks to get my kids to eat homemade deliciousness! I will also share updates to our house that we have done in the last year since our move. With one income, we do most of the work ourselves and with amazing family and friends to help out, cutting costs but keeping style and money in the bank! I am a wife and mother of 3 boys and 1 princess. When I was a kid, I remember being asked what I wanted to be or do when I grew up. My response was, "a mom", and I am proud to grow up and be a mom to 4 amazing kids! Samuel is 11, Matthew is 8, Levi is 4, and Elliana is almost 2. We have been blessed to have kids who love to explore foods, to try new recipes, and enjoy helping us around the house. With 4 kids, you better believe they help clean! My husband Tyler and I have been married almost 13 years. We love our kids, we love outdoors, camping, canoeing, grilling, watching movies, and just hanging out making memories. A few years ago I gifted Tyler with his own "menu" book, where we write meals and foods we have loved to eat. Weekly our family decides what our meals will be and I make up a grocery list with what we need. It literally is my favorite chore! I love to shop, so shopping for food on a budget is my biggest win! Thank you for taking the time and visiting my site, Subscribe so you do not miss a post! Keep coming back to hear about new recipes, updates on our home, fun times with our kids, and how to make homemade deliciousness! ~Monica

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