This old-fashioned carrot cake with pineapple and frosted with delicious cream cheese frosting is moist, delicious, and decadent!
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You’ll love this moist and delicious cake. It’s a family favorite recipe and frequently requested for birthdays, Easter, Mother’s Day and just about anytime we get together! With a buttermilk glaze, pineapple, cream cheese frosting and more, this old-fashioned carrot cake will become a family favorite in your home too!
Too busy to make this right now? Pin for later to your favorite Pinterest Board!
Carrot Cake History
I always love researching and sharing a bit about a dish’s history and the carrot cake was particularly interesting as there are many theories!
Some historians believe that carrot cake may have originated in the Middle Ages when carrots were used as a sweetener in desserts as sugar was not available.
Interestingly enough, George Washington, one of our Founding Fathers, is believed to have served carrot cake to his guests! This is according to Taste.
However, it did not appear in a cookbook until 1827, when it was published in a French cookbook in England.
Whenever or wherever carrot cake originated from it’s become a popular dessert across the globe!
Ingredients
This recipe has a rather long list of ingredients but I promise it’s super worth the effort to make this delectable homemade carrot cake.
Carrot Cake Ingredients
Eggs – I use large eggs in my baking recipes.
Olive Oil – Use a good high-quality brand of olive oil for the best flavor. I have also used coconut oil for a sweeter flavor and it works great!
Buttermilk – Using buttermilk makes for a rich and moist cake!
Sugar – Regular granulated sugar here!
Real Vanilla Extract – For the absolute best flavor be sure to use real vanilla extract and NOT imitation!
Flour – All-purpose flour works perfectly in this carrot cake recipe but I have been known to use half all-purpose and half whole-wheat flour as well!
Baking Soda – To help our cake rise!
Cinnamon – This is the only spice used in this cake.
Salt – To enhance the flavors.
Crushed Pineapple – This also helps keep the cake moist as well as adds additional flavor. Pineapple and carrot just go together!
Walnuts – I like to add nuts to my carrot cake but if you are nut-free feel free to omit them!
Shredded Coconut – This helps add sweetness and flavor to the cake. I love making carrot cake with pineapple and coconut for added moisture and flavor!
Carrots – Well you can’t make carrot cake without carrots right!?! This recipe calls for grated carrots. I like to use a food processor to quickly and efficiently grate my carrots.
Buttermilk Glaze Ingredients
To make this old-fashioned carrot cake extra moist, I use a buttermilk glaze to soak into the cake after removing it from the oven!
Sugar
Baking Soda
Buttermilk
Butter
Light Corn Syrup
Real Vanilla Extra
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
Top this delicious buttermilk glazed carrot cake with this simple cream cheese frosting.
Butter, at room temperature
Cream Cheese, at room temperature
Real Vanilla Extract
Powdered Sugar
Milk
Method
This cake is made in 3 primary steps – the carrot cake, the buttermilk glaze, and, finally, the cream cheese frosting!
How to Make the Carrot Cake
To make the carrot cake, add the eggs, olive oil, buttermilk, sugar, and vanilla to the bowl of a standing mixer. Mix until well blended.
Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix until fully incorporated.
Add in the grated carrots, chopped walnuts, shredded coconut, and drained can of crushed pineapple. Mix until well blended.
Pour the carrot cake batter into a greased 9×13 baking pan, which is my preferred method, or two 9-inch layer cake pans.
Baking at 350° F for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.
Make the Buttermilk Glaze
When there are about 15 minutes until the carrot cake is done baking, make the buttermilk glaze.
In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, butter, and corn syrup to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla.
When the cake is done baking, remove it from the oven and using a butter knife poke holes randomly to help absorb the buttermilk glaze.
Slowly, pour the buttermilk glaze over the hot cake.
It will look like a lot of glaze but I promise it will be absorbed and make the cake moist and delicious!
Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes while the glaze absorbs. Now it’s almost ready to be frosted!
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
This cream cheese frosting is super easy with only 5 ingredients and can be used anytime you need a quick cream cheese frosting!
In the bowl of the standing mixer, mix the butter and cream cheese until fluffy. Be patient here it will get fluffy!
Add the vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Once the cake has absorbed the glaze and it has cooled, spread the frosting over the top of the cake! Chill the carrot cake for 1 hour in the fridge before serving!
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Old Fashioned Carrot Cake
Equipment
Ingredients
Cake Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup olive oil
- ¾ cup buttermilk
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 20 ounce can crushed pineapple drained
- 1 cup walnuts coarsely chopped
- ¾ cup shredded coconut
- 2 cups carrots grated
Buttermilk Glaze
- 1 cup sugar
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 stick butter
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting- 1 stick butter at room temperature
- 8 ounce cream cheese at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon real vanilla extract
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350° F.
- To make the cake: In the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the eggs, olive oil, buttermilk, sugar, and vanilla until well blended.
- Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt and mix until well incorporated.
- Add the pineapple, carrots, walnuts, and shredded coconut and mix until well blended.
- Pour the batter into a greased 9×13-inch baking pan or 2 greased 9-inch layer cake pans.
- Bake at 350° F for 50 to 55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- While the cake bakes, make the glaze. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring the sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, 1 stick of butter, and corn syrup to a boil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the vanilla extract.
- When the cake is done, remove it from the oven and slowly pour the glaze over the hot cake.
- Cool the cake in the pan until the glaze is absorbed, about 15 minutes.
- To make the frosting, in the bowl of a standing mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until light and fluffy.
- Add the vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk and mix until smooth.
- Frost the cake and place it in the fridge for at least 1 hour or until the frosting is set.
Notes
Whether you make this delicious old-fashioned carrot cake for Easter or a birthday, it’s sure to be a hit! It was the first thing I ever baked for my husband and he still asks every year for it for his birthday!
