Description
A moist and flavorful pineapple carrot cake topped with cream cheese frosting—perfect for special occasions or everyday treats.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Substitutions:
- Use gluten-free flour for a gluten-free version.
- Substitute coconut sugar for granulated sugar to lower the glycemic index.
- Replace walnuts with raisins for a nut-free alternative.
Instructions
Preheat Oven
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans to prevent sticking.
Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger until well combined.
Combine Wet Ingredients
To the bowl of dry ingredients, add vegetable oil and eggs. Mix until smooth and fully incorporated.
Add Carrots and Pineapple
Stir in grated carrots, drained crushed pineapple, and vanilla extract. Fold in the chopped walnuts if using.
Divide and Pour
Divide the batter evenly between the two prepared pans, smoothing the tops with a spatula.
Bake
Place the pans in the preheated oven and bake for 30–35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool the Cakes
Remove the cakes from the oven. Allow them to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Frost
Once completely cool, frost with a generous layer of cream cheese frosting between the layers and over the top and sides. Decorate as desired.
Notes
Do not overmix the batter, as this can lead to a dense cake.
Let the cake cool completely before frosting to avoid melting the cream cheese icing.
You can make the cake a day ahead—it becomes even more flavorful overnight.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pineapple carrot cake, cream cheese frosting, tropical dessert, carrot cake recipe