Description
A festive, ultra-moist carrot cake layered with light whipped cream cheese frosting and topped with sparkling sugared cranberries for a tender, sweet-tangy dessert that’s perfect for holidays and special occasions.
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup granulated sugar
2½ cups grated carrots
2 tablespoons vanilla sugar (optional)
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
¾ cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup dried cranberries
Pinch of salt
16 oz cream cheese
10 oz butter, softened
2 pounds confectioner’s sugar
1 cup fresh cranberries
2 tablespoons honey or sugar
2 tablespoons warm water
1 cup granulated sugar (for coating cranberries)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9-inch cake pan with parchment paper and lightly grease the sides.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat eggs, oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, and salt until well combined.
- Add flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix just until incorporated.
- Fold in grated carrots and dried cranberries.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for about 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Remove from oven and let cake cool completely.
- For sugared cranberries, dissolve honey or sugar in warm water. Add cranberries and soak 15–20 minutes.
- Remove cranberries with a slotted spoon and let dry for 1 hour.
- Roll cranberries in sugar and let dry until ready to use.
- For frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add confectioner’s sugar and beat until light and fluffy.
- Slice cooled cake into 2–3 layers.
- Spread or pipe frosting between layers and over the top and sides.
- Decorate with sugared cranberries, slice, and serve.
Notes
Freshly grated carrots yield the moistest cake.
Sugared cranberries are best added shortly before serving.
Unfrosted cake layers can be frozen ahead of time.
Optional nuts like walnuts or pecans add texture.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 56g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 68g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
