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Carrot cake happens to be a favorite family dessert that we’ve enjoyed our entire lives. Although we love our classic version, we also love one that feeds the entire family, like today’s Carrot Sheet Cake.
Not only is this recipe beyond simple, but it’s prepped in no time and makes a large sheet pan full of cake. This is especially perfect when we have the entire Luna clan gathered for Easter.
Be sure to check out our other carrot cake goodies like: Carrot Cake Muffins, Carrot Cake Cupcakes and Carrot Cake Cookies to add to the Easter dessert table.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Feeds a crowd. It’s made in a jelly roll pan – sheet cake style – perfect for feeding everyone!
- Easy. Just simple ingredients, easy prep, and a more-than-satisfactory result.
- The flavor! The spices, moist cake crumb, and tangy cream cheese frosting (preferably lots of it) are all divine, making it a great Easter dessert.
Carrot Cake Sheet Cake Ingredients
- all-purpose flour
- baking powder
- baking soda
- cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- salt
- vegetable oil
- sugar
- brown sugar
- vanilla extract
- eggs
- sour cream – or greek yogurt
- fresh grated carrots – Freshly shredded carrots are a must. Prepackaged shredded carrots are too dry and crunchy, and won’t produce as good of results.
- unsalted butter
- cream cheese
- powdered sugar
- heavy whipping cream
- chopped walnuts – are optional. You can also use chopped pecans.
How to Make Carrot Sheet Cake
- PREP. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 13×17-inch jelly roll pan.
- DRY INGREDIENTS. In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients. Set aside.
- WET INGREDIENTS. In a separate large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed beat together the oil and sugars until evenly combined. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream until no sugar lumps remain. **You may need to turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- COMBINE. With the mixer on low speed, carefully beat in the flour mixture, followed by the grated carrots. Be careful not to over-mix.
- BAKE. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it to the edges. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-35 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, and if you give the pan a gentle nudge the middle doesn’t wobble.
- COOL. Allow the cake to fully cool in the pan before frosting.
- FROSTING. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed beat together the butter and cream cheese until very well softened and evenly combined. Turn the mixer down to low speed and carefully beat in the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, followed by the vanilla. Beat in the whipping cream 1 tablespoon at a time as needed, or add in a little extra powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.
- FROST THE CAKE. Frost the cooled cake, then decorate with chopped walnuts if desired.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
Different pan sizes.
- 9-inch round or square cake pans: Bake at 350°F for about 30 minutes. (If using smaller pans, a frosting filling can be added between the first layer and the second layer of cake).
- 9×13 pan (with sides at least 2 inches tall): Bake at 350°F for 35-40 minutes.
- Cupcakes: Bake at 350°F for 22-25 minutes.
- Mini cupcakes: Bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes.
Ways to decorate.
- Orange flowers. With a piping set, use orange frosting to pipe on beautiful flowers.
- Frosting carrots. Use a piping bag of orange frosting with a small piping tip and a bag of green frosting with a small tip. Space the carrots so that each square serving has a single carrot in the center, pipe them on randomly, or create other designs.
- Chocolate-covered strawberries. Top with Easter Chocolate Covered Strawberries.
Carrot Sheet Cake
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour spooned and leveled
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 eggs room temp
- 3 tablespoons sour cream (greek yogurt works too)
- 2½ cups grated carrots
Cream Cheese Frosting
- ½ cup unsalted butter softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2½ – 3½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream as needed
- ½ cup chopped walnuts optional
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease and flour the bottom and sides of a 13×17-inch jelly roll pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed beat together the oil and sugars until evenly combined. Beat in the eggs, vanilla, and sour cream until no sugar lumps remain. You may need to turn off the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- With the mixer on low speed, carefully beat in the flour mixture, followed by the grated carrots. Be careful not to over-mix.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it to the edges. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-35 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean, and if you give the pan a gentle nudge the middle doesn't wobble.
- Allow the cake to fully cool in the pan before frosting.
Frosting
- In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed beat together the butter and cream cheese until very well softened and evenly combined.
- Turn the mixer down to low speed and carefully beat in the powdered sugar, about 1 cup at a time, followed by the vanilla. Beat in the whipping cream 1 tablespoon at a time as needed, or add in a little extra powdered sugar until you reach the desired consistency.
- Frost the cooled cake, then decorate with chopped walnuts if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Cover the cooled cake with a layer of plastic wrap and a layer of foil, and place it in the freezer for 2-3 months.
STORE unfrosted carrot cake at room temperature for up to 3 days, covered with plastic wrap or foil. If it is frosted, keep it in the fridge for up to a week. Store the leftovers in the pan, or slice it up and keep the individual slices in an airtight container. To freeze frosted leftovers, wrap the pieces in plastic wrap and foil, or place them in a heavy-duty freezer bag for 4-6 months.
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This seriously looks delicious and perfect for any function! Thanks, Fiona! For more great recipes from her, be sure to head on over to Just So Tasty.
