Old Fashioned Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake with Pineapple sitting next to fresh carrots on a white marble countertop.

This Old Fashioned Carrot Cake, a cherished recipe from my Mom, made with pineapple, boasts a moist and tender crumb bursting with flavor. Topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting, it's a timeless favorite that's sure to delight with every flavorful bite.

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword Carrot Cake Traditional Recipe, Carrot Cake with Pineapple, Old Fashioned Carrot Cake

Prep Time 25

Cook Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 529kcal

Author Heather

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

1 cup oil *see Note #1 below
2 cups granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup crushed pineapple *drained well, see Note #2 below
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups grated carrots *about 4-6 medium sized carrots
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour *sifted, see Note #3 below
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup chopped pecans *or walnuts, plus extra for sprinkling on top of cake

Frosting Ingredients

4 ounces cream cheese *softened to room temperature
1/2 cup butter *1 stick, softened to room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar *sifted

Instructions

Cake Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking pan or two 9-inch round cake pans. See Note #4 below.
In a large mixing bowl, combine oil, sugar, and eggs. Beat well until smooth.
Stir in crushed pineapple, vanilla and grated carrots until evenly distributed in batter.
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture, stirring until just combined. Do not over mix.
Gently fold in chopped nuts into the batter.
Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan(s) and spread it evenly.
Bake sheet pan for approximately 45-50 or until a toothpick(or cake tester) inserted into the center comes out clean.
For two round cake pans bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick(or cake tester) inserted into the center comes out clean. See Note #5 below.
Let cake cool completely before frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions

Once the cake has cooled, prepare frosting.
In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat butter and cream cheese on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Add vanilla and gradually add powdered sugar in two batches, mixing on low until incorporated, then on high for 3 minutes.
Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top of the cooled cake. If you baked two layers, frost between the layers.
See Note #6 below for decorating ideas.

Notes

Recipe Notes

Note #1- My Mom's original recipe called for Wesson oil. However, I used Chosen Foods Avocado Oil in its place.

Note #2- One cup of crushed pineapple is equivalent to a 14-ounce can, drained. Also, the easiest way to drain crushed pineapple is using a fine mesh strainer.

Note #3- The fine mesh strainer also works beautifully for sifting the flour and powdered sugar.

Note #4- For easy removal of the cake from two round pans, grease the pans, line them with parchment paper liners, and grease the liners.

Note #5- Allow the rounds to cool completely before removing them from the pans.

Note #6-

If you're a skilled home baker who excels in baking but finds cake decorating challenging, here are some creative ideas to elevate the charm and visual appeal of your carrot cake.

Cream Cheese Swirls- Make a little extra frosting and pipe cream cheese swirls over the top of the cake for a simple and elegant decoration.
Grated Carrots- Use grated carrots to create a decorative carrot design on the surface of the cake.
Nutty Topping- Add a border to the cake's edges with chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts, or sprinkle them sparingly over the top for a delightful finishing touch.
Sprinkle of Cinnamon- Dust the top of the cake with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon for a subtle yet flavorful finish.
Edible Flowers- Garnish the cake with edible flowers, such as pansies or peonies, for a beautiful and natural decoration.
Patterned Frosting- Use stencils and colored sanding sugar to create intricate patterns or designs for Easter celebrations.
Decorative Sprinkles- Sprinkle the top of the cake with holiday-themed sprinkles for a festive and whimsical finishing touch.

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