Easy Carrot Cake Recipe (UK)

This delicious and easy carrot cake recipe is perfect for UK bakers, using readily available ingredients and simple techniques. Forget complicated recipes; this one delivers moist, spiced cake every time.

Ingredients:

This recipe uses standard UK cup measurements.

• For the Cake:

  • 200g (1 ½ cups) self-raising flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp ground cloves
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • 200g (1 ½ cups) caster sugar
  • 175ml (¾ cup) vegetable oil
  • 4 large eggs
  • 200g (1 ½ cups) grated carrots
  • 50g (⅓ cup) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
  • 50g (⅓ cup) raisins or sultanas (optional)

• For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 200g (1 ¾ cups) full-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 100g (¾ cup) icing sugar, sifted
  • 2 tbsp butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preparing the Cake Batter:

1. Preheat your oven to 180°C (160°C fan/Gas Mark 4). Grease and flour two 20cm (8-inch) sandwich tins. This ensures easy removal of the cake once baked.
2. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger. This avoids lumps and ensures even baking.
3. Add the sugar, oil, and eggs to the dry ingredients. Mix well until thoroughly combined. An electric hand mixer makes this step much easier.
4. Gently fold in the grated carrots, nuts (if using), and raisins (if using). Don't overmix; a few lumps are fine.

2. Baking the Cake:

1. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared tins.
2. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
3. Let the cakes cool in the tins for 10 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.

3. Making the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy.
2. Gradually add the sifted icing sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
3. Stir in the vanilla extract.

4. Assembling the Carrot Cake:

1. Once the cakes are completely cool, frost the top of one layer with a generous amount of cream cheese frosting.
2. Carefully place the second cake layer on top and frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting.

Tips for the Perfect Carrot Cake:

• Use fresh carrots: Freshly grated carrots will give you the best flavour and texture.
• Don't overmix the batter: Overmixing can lead to a tough cake.
• Check for doneness: Use a skewer to ensure the cake is fully baked before removing it from the oven.
• Let the cake cool completely: This prevents the frosting from melting.
• Get creative with toppings: Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or shredded coconut for extra texture and flavour. A dusting of cinnamon also looks lovely.

Serving Suggestions:

Serve your delicious carrot cake with a cup of tea or coffee. It’s perfect for afternoon tea, birthdays, or any special occasion. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the fridge for up to a week.

This easy carrot cake recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Enjoy! Remember to share your baking creations online using #EasyCarrotCakeUK.