When it comes to birthdays in our home, we have a tradition of going all out on the cake, usually bought at a bakery. But, this year, for my husband’s birthday, we decided to make his favorite – carrot cake.
Carrot cake has always been his top pick, which is usually the easiest bakery order I have in the family. But this year our daughter decided she wanted to make the cake. So it became a project the kids and I took on together. With all of us spending more time at home during the winter months, we’ve found baking to be an enjoyable and easy way to keep the kids entertained. It’s a hands-on activity that not only results in treats, but also teaches them valuable skills like working together, patience, and, my favorite, following instructions.
The kids were super eager to help from the moment the ingredients made it home. They helped me grate the carrots, a task they found extremely fun. And of course, using the stand mixer was the highlight of their day. Their faces lit while watching the ingredients blend into a smooth batter.
We followed a simple yet delightful carrot cake recipe, which I’ve shared below.
2 Layer Carrot Cake
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 each eggs
- 2 cups pastry flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 cups carrots finely grated
- 4 oz walnuts chopped
For the Frosting
- 1 pound powdered sugar
- 16 oz cream cheese room temperature
- 4 oz unsalted butter room temperature
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup walnuts finely chopped
Instructions
Prep Instructions
- Grate the carrots until you have 3 cups.3 cups carrots
- Chop the walnuts until you have a total of 4.5 oz.4 oz walnuts, 1/2 cup walnuts
- Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans.
For the Carrot Cake
- Preheat your oven to 300°F (150°C).
- In the mixing bowl of your stand mixer, combine the sugar and oil, and mix until well blended.2 cups granulated sugar, 1 cup vegetable oil
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.4 each eggs
- In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.2 cups pastry flour, 2 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and mix until incorporated.
- Fold in the grated carrots and chopped nuts until well combined.3 cups carrots, 4 oz walnuts
- Divide the batter evenly between the greased and floured cake pans.
- Bake for about 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let the cakes cool in the pans for about 10 minutes, then turn them out onto a cooling rack to cool completely.
For the Frosting
- Combine the powdered sugar, cream cheese, butter, and vanilla in the bowl of your stand mixer. Beat until smooth and creamy.1 pound powdered sugar, 16 oz cream cheese, 4 oz unsalted butter, 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- Once the cakes have cooled, spread frosting on top of one layer. Place the second layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake.
- Sprinkle the top with the remaining chopped walnuts.1/2 cup walnuts
Nutrition
When this was done, the kids were so proud of themselves! So, if you’re looking for a fun activity to do with your kids, I highly recommend baking. It’s a wonderful way to spend time together, and the end product is always worth the effort. Plus, who can resist a slice of homemade carrot cake?
Enjoy!