With spring just around the corner, carrot cake is a great recipe to get you into a hopping spirit! Carrot cake is a simple recipe that anyone can make.

Ingredients for the Cake:

1¼ cups granulated sugar

¾ cup brown sugar

1¼ cups vegetable oil 

4 large eggs, room temperature

2 tsp pure vanilla extract

2⅓ cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

2 tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp salt

4 cups grated carrots

1 cup chopped walnuts, plus an additional ½-1 cup for garnish

Cream cheese frosting goes perfectly with carrot cake!

Ingredients for the cream cheese frosting:

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened

8 oz cream cheese, softened

3½ cups confectioners’ sugar

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Instructions for the cake:

Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease a 9×13 cake pan with butter and flour or nonstick spray.

Mix all wet ingredients (sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract), in a stand mixer at medium speed for 1-2 minutes. Next, add all dry ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt), and beat until combined. Finally, mix the remaining ingredients (carrots and walnuts). Bake the carrot cake for 50-55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the cake comes out clean. Let the cake cool for about an hour before adding your icing. 

Instructions for the frosting: 

Place ½ cup butter and 8 oz cream cheese in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Beat on medium-high speed until very mixed, about 1-2 minutes. Turn the mixer off, then add 3 1⁄2 cups of confectioner’s sugar and 1 tsp vanilla extract. Begin beating on low, then slowly increase the speed as the sugar is incorporated. Continue beating until the frosting is smooth. Finally, when the cake is completely cooled, add your frosting and chopped walnuts and enjoy!