Hello lovelies,
I’ve got to say it guys, carrot cake is up there with one of my favourite cakes! it’s on a rare occasion I have a slice but when I do, my body melts with all the tasty goodness.
If you’ve been around here a while or you’ve searched ‘carrot cake’ on my blog, you’ll have seen that I’ve posted my fair share of different carrot cake bakes.
That being said, I’ve never made a carrot loaf cake before so I thought I’d change that today and damn are you in for a treat with this loaf.
It’s everything a carrot loaf cake should be. It’s beautifully moist, it’s crammed full of carrots & walnuts and it’s topped with a silky smooth cream cheese frosting! Perfect for those of you that want a cake which is made with ease, takes little time and the finished result is divine.
So, I won’t take up any more of your time, if this carrot loaf has caught your attention and got you wanting to make one of your own, you know the drill. Keep on scrolling below and you’ll find today’s recipe.
Category: Desert
Servings: 8-10 Slices
Prep Time: 10 Minutes
Bake Time: 55-60 Minutes
Decorating Time: 15 Minutes
Overall Time: 1+ Hours
Ingredients You Need For The Carrot Loaf Cake:
- 175ml Of Sunflower Oil
- 3 Large Eggs
- 200g Of Light Brown Sugar
- 250g Of Grated Carrots
- 150g Of Walnuts, Chopped
- Zest Of 1 Orange
- 200g Of Self-Raising Flour
- 1tsp Of Bicarbonate Of Soda
- 2tsp Of Mixed Spice
- 1tsp Of Ground Ginger
- 1tsp Of Ground Cinnamon
- 1tsp Of Nutmeg
Ingredients You Need For The Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 125g Of Unsalted Butter
- 125g Of Icing Sugar
- 2tsp Of Vanilla Bean Paste / Extract
- 250g Of Full-Fat Cream Cheese
Ingredients You Need To Decorate:
- 75g Of Walnuts, Chopped
- Carrot Sugar Toppers
How To Make The Carrot Loaf Cake:
- Firstly, gather together your equipment and ingredients, line a 2lb loaf tin with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 180C / 160C Fan / Gas Mark 4.
- Secondly, in a large mixing bowl, add the 175ml of sunflower oil, 3 large eggs and 200g of light brown sugar and mix together lightly to combine.
- Next, fold through the 250g of grated carrots, 150g of chopped walnuts and zest of one orange until combined.
- Now, add the 200g of self-raising flour, 1tsp of bicarbonate of soda, 2tsp of mixed spice, 1tsp of ground ginger, 1tsp of ground cinnamon and 1tsp of ground nutmeg and mix again until just combined.
- Pour the carrot cake mixture into the prepared loaf tin and smooth out the top.
- Place into the oven and bake for 55-60 minutes until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and allow to cool fully in the loaf tin before carefully removing from the tin and transferring onto a wire rack.
How To Make The Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Now that the carrot loaf cake is made, baked and cooled, it’s time to make the frosting.
- In a stand mixer or using an electric whisk, beat the 125g of unsalted butter for 5-8 minutes to loosen.
- Next, add the 125g of icing sugar and 2tsp of vanilla bean paste and beat again for around 5 minutes until really smooth.
- Making sure your 250g of full-fat cream cheese has no excess water, add the cream cheese and beat again for a few minutes (TIP: it’s will likely go through a lumpy stage but continue to beat out the lumps until it’s smooth and thick).
How To Decorate:
- When the frosting is thick and smooth, slather the cream cheese frosting over the top of the carrot loaf.
- Finally, sprinkle the chopped walnuts across the top of the frosting and finish with some carrot sugar toppers.
That’s your Carrot Loaf Cake prepared, baked, cooled and decorated, ready for you to enjoy!
Notes:
- Due to the cream cheese frosting, the cake should be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Rather than using nuts, you could switch them for some raisins.
- I used these carrot sugar toppers: https://amzn.eu/d/08ew58PN however, you can decorate as you please.
Can you now see why I’m so obsessed with this carrot loaf?
I’m not sure why but I’ve always felt like carrot cake was a spring bake so let this be your sign this spring to make yourself and/or your loved ones this carrot loaf.
As I’ve said above, it’s super quick to throw together, it’s perfect for any one of any skill set to make, bake and decorate and the end result is utterly scrumptious.
Let me know in the comments below if you make this carrot loaf yourself and if you do, what your thoughts were on it. Are you now a carrot loaf lover? Are you as obsessed with it as me?
Sending you all tons of love & hugs as always,
Elle xo
