This scrumptious carrot cake—JoJo's Carrot Cake as we like to call it—is my mother's recipe! It's moist, flavorful, and effortless to whip up. It can also be made nut and dairy-free.
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A carrot cake for the whole family
When people ask me what my favorite dessert is, the answer is always JoJo's Carrot Cake. Just thinking about it while I write this makes my mouth water. It's my mom's famous carrot cake, comprised of a fluffy cream cheese frosting paired with delicious flavors of carrot, nut, and sugar. It's a staple in our household and we enjoy it for just about every celebration.
Heck, even if we're not celebrating anything, it's the first dessert we gravitate to! Often times, I'll double the batch and freeze one cake for when we need it next.
My favorite way to make this recipe is in a food processor. (Even if you are starting with pre-shredded carrots.) It's a 'one dish dirty' kind of meal prep process—technically two, as the frosting is combined in a mixing bowl. Either way, it's effortless to whip up.
Make sure you check out the listed notes for substitutions. This recipe can easily be made dairy free and nut free without taking away from the rich taste in every bite!
Ingredients in JoJo's Carrot Cake
It's pretty easy for me to gravitate to healthier alternatives for dessert. But I think we can all agree, there is something to be said about the 'real deal' kind of treats. This carrot cake is IT. Here's what you need:
For the cake:
Granulated sugar: We are having dessert, aren't we?
All-purpose flour: To help thicken our batter and give this cake structure.
Eggs: I recommend using large ones.
Shredded carrots: These are crucial as they are our cake's main flavor. You can use whole carrots, but you will need to add the extra step of shredding them in a food processor.
Lemon flavoring: Adds depth!
Cinnamon: One of my favorite baking spices.
Baking soda: This will help our cake rise.
Vegetable oil: You can substitute applesauce or coconut oil.
Chopped nuts: My favorites are walnuts or pecans. Omit if you are making this a nut free cake.
Salt: To help balance our sweet flavors!
For the frosting:
Unsalted butter: A fat that helps create the base of this oh so creamy frosting.
Softened cream cheese: Brings this carrot cake to life!
Powdered sugar: Adds sweetness.
Vanilla extract: Also for sweetness!
Equipment Needed
To recreate JoJo's fabulous carrot cake, you will need: two either 9 x 12 x 2" circular pans or 9 x 9" square pans, a standing or hand mixer, a food processor (if not using pre-shredded carrots), a mixing bowl, a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, and measuring cups.
How to make JoJo's Carrot Cake
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Grease two (2) cake pans with coconut oil spray or butter. I recommend using 9 x 12 x 2" circular pans or 9 x 9" square pans.
3. Combine the dry ingredients into a bowl: sugar, all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
4. Add vegetable oil and beat until consistent batter forms, roughly 3 minutes.
5. Add one egg at a time into the mixing bowl. Beat well after each addition.
6. Fold in chopped nuts, shredded carrots, and lemon flavoring.
7. Pour the mixture into the greased pans.
8. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
9. Allow cake to cool before removing from the pans and frosting.
10. For the frosting, combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl: butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt if desired.
11. Blend frosting ingredients on medium speed until smooth. All of the clumps of powdered sugar should be dissolved.
12. Frost the cooled cake using ⅓ of the frosting as the glue to the two (2) cakes and the remainder for the top & sides.
13. Enjoy!!
Carrot Cake Substitutions
Like I mentioned, you can easily make JoJo's Carrot Cake dairy or nut free. For the cake, exclude nuts from the batter. For the frosting, use a plant based butter and cream cheese and do not garnish the cake with nuts.
To garnish this Carrot Cake, you can also use candied oranges, cinnamon sticks, or coconut shavings. All elegant, beautiful, and delicious!
Replace vegetable oil with applesauce if you'd like.
Want an even more decadent cinnamon flavor? Use cinnamon spice flavored cream cheese!
Tips and tricks
How do I store JoJo's Carrot Cake?
Store this cake on the counter or keep it in the fridge. If I am making it a day before, I will keep the cake and frosting chilled separately.
Are there any tips for success?
It’s crucial to beat the batter after each egg on high speed so the liquid can adequately absorb into the dry baking ingredients.
Does this cake freeze well?
This cake DOES freeze well! Store it in an airtight container. I don't recommend storing it for more than 2 months. I love the taste of an extra cold, dense cake!
More recipes you may love
Maple Bundt Cake with Cream Cheese Filling
Healthier Pumpkin Banana Bread
Summer Peach Blackberry Galette
Also check out these 21 Easy and Delicious Easter Recipes for other holiday treats!
JoJo's Carrot Cake Recipe
Equipment
- Mixing Bowl
- Cake pans (2)
- Rubber spatula or wooden spoon
- Food Processor
- Measuring Cups
- Conventional oven
- Standing or hand mixer
Ingredients
Cake
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp lemon flavoring
- 3-4 cups carrots, shredded
- 1 cup chopped nuts, walnuts and pecans are best
Frosting
- ½ cup butter or margarine, softened
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 - 2 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 - 1 ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 dash salt, if desired
Instructions
Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Grease two (2) cake pans with coconut oil spray or butter. I recommend using 9 x 12 x 2″ circular pans or 9 x 9″ square pans.
- Combine the dry ingredients into a bowl: sugar, all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add vegetable oil and vanilla extract and beat until consistent batter forms, roughly 3 minutes.
- Add one egg at a time into the mixing bowl. Beat well after each addition.
- Fold in chopped nuts, shredded carrots, and lemon flavoring.
- Pour the mixture into the greased pans.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool before removing from the pans and frosting.
- Frost the cooled cake using ⅓ of the frosting as the glue to the two (2) cakes and the remainder for the top & sides.
Frosting
- Combine all ingredients in a mixing bowl: butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt if desired.
- Blend frosting ingredients on medium speed until smooth. All of the clumps of powdered sugar should be dissolved.
Notes
I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It's my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved, something that you think it might need, or just say hi!
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find JoJo's Carrot Cake
1 slice: 60 grams Carbs | 17 grams Fat | 5 grams Protein
NOTE: the nutrition label below is auto-generated and often does not include specific brands or types of ingredients. Example: fat free milk vs. whole milk, chicken breast vs. chicken thigh, etc.
**Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find JoJo's Carrot Cake
1 slice: 60 grams Carbs | 17 grams Fat | 5 grams Protein
**Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
wow! this recipe was FABULOUS! whole family loved it and kept asking for seconds:) my family became POSSESIVE over the remaining cake slices. I'd love to meet this famous Jojo and shake her hand on a recipe well done.
because carrot cake is a fam favorite, i just HAD to make some for easter this year. thankfully this was the recipe that i found because WOW! this cake is incredibly flavorful with warm spices and a nutty bite. and oh my, the cream cheese frosting is so smooth and complimentary to the cake
I had the pleasure of trying this cake from a friend and OH MY I feel in love! I had to make it at my next family event, and WOW it was a crowd pleaser. The cream cheese frosting was licked off every plate and no crumbs were left!
It is the BEST!!! So happy you agree. XO
AMAZING!! This is not just an Easter dessert! We have made this cake for birthdays, family gatherings and everything in between. A perfect amount of sweetness!
This recipe BLEW my family away! It completely changed our perception on carrot cake (not huge fans previously). Now, this is the only cake recipe we talk about... it is truly mind-opening! The cake is super moist, nutty, and it is deliciously combined with the cream cheese frosting. Huge shoutout to the famous JoJo!
This carrot cake is legit the BEST thing I'ver ever had. I'm not a greater baker, but this recipe is so easy to make and comes out perfect every time!! I am dairy free and I substituted dairy free butter and cream cheese into the recipe for the frosting and it tasted sooooo good!!! 10/10 highly recommend making this!!!
Loved this recipe - I forgot how much I love carrot cake! I didn’t have oil on hand and subbed applesauce instead and it was still SO moist! I’d eat this even without the frosting. The cinnamon flavor really comes through. 🙂 Planning on sharing this with my family for Easter!
10/10!! I just made this cake for my boyfriend's birthday and everyone loved it!! best carrot cake we've ever had!!
Ahhh!!! SO happy to hear that - go green 😉
This cake is so, so, so, delish!! Perfectly dense and moist to make the perfect bite!
This recipe is SO good and simple - even better! 10/10 would recommend. Perfect springtime treat 😊
When I tell you I RAN to the review section after finishing my first (and definitely not last) slice. This is the perfect carrot cake! I made it for my family for Easter and everybody loved it!
Made this for Easter this past weekend, and came home with a sliver of it left - everyone devoured it! So easy to make and such a crowd-pleaser, thank you Courtney and JoJo!
Okay somewhat funny story to share: This year was my first Easter away from home due to a mix of college and COVID. To make myself feel better about it, I opted to try a recipe I've been putting off forever- this carrot cake. My boyfriend ended up being able to join me for a nice dinner at my apartment, but I will say he is typically very skeptical of any veggie inclusion in desserts. Well folks, even he approved. This carrot cake is SO GOOD. The first go around I was impatient and broke part of a cake taking it out of the pan because I'm silly, but it still held together and frosted beautifully. I garnished with coconut flakes and golden raisins to mask my mishap and found that they only elevated the deliciousness of this recipe. This recipe is a keeper and I am already drooling at the thought of making it again. Thanks for sharing with us, Courtney. xo 🙂
Made this cake for Easter. My parents were visiting me from out of state (MI to GA) and I wanted to make something special for Easter and I knew that my dad loved carrot cake and it seemed appropriate. He loved it so much he even took some back home. I know I will be making this for every special holiday.
The cake was super moist and the frosting was so creamy. Definitely a 5 star in my book.
Made this for Easter. My parents were visiting from out of state (MI to GA). I wanted to make something special. I knew my dad loved carrot cake and it seemed appropriate for Easter. This cake is so moist and the froting is so creamy. I know I'll be making this cake again for special holidays. 5 star in my book.
This is the second year making this cake for Easter and once again it was a hit! Everybody absolutely loved it! the cake was so moist and the cream cheese frosting was absolutely delicious and complimented the cake so well! Will definitely continue making this for holidays and other special occasions!
The icing is everything!! Perfect amount of sweetness!
This was probably some of the best carrot cake I’ve had. As a baker and carrot cake lover, I was so happy with how moist and flavorful this was!
Can I make this in one 13x9 pan? Would the baking time change?
Absolutely! Baking time will be about the same since you're using more batter in one larger pan instead of two smaller pans. It's always best to keep an eye on it and don't forget to check it with a toothpick! I'd love to hear how it turns out for you:)
I made this for Easter! It was amazing!! I substituted applesauce for the oil and it turned out fantastic!!! The frosting is perfectly sweet! Thank you!
This was a huge hit with my family! Everyone loved it - was perfect for Easter ♥️
This carrot cake is AMAZING. I’ve made it for multiple holidays already and my family and friends raved about it every time - they all say it’s the best they’ve ever had and I agree! It comes together pretty quickly (I grate the carrots in a food processor to save time) and any leftovers hold up really well in the fridge. I don’t even bother eating any other carrot cake anymore because I know it won’t compare 🤣 highly highly recommend!