Easy Homemade Carrot Cake Recipe: Sweet Spiced Delight

Baking a delightful carrot cake can turn an ordinary afternoon into a sweet celebration of flavor.

Warm spices and grated carrots create magic in every single slice.

Delicate layers promise pure comfort with each tender bite.

Cream cheese frosting adds a luxurious finishing touch that makes people smile.

Home kitchens come alive when this classic dessert starts taking shape.

Unexpected ingredients like pineapple or nuts can elevate the traditional recipe.

Whip up this nostalgic treat and watch happiness spread across eager faces.

Why Delia Smith Carrot Cake Deserves a Spot on Your Table

• Boost Family Bonding: Create delightful memories while baking together, with simple steps that kids and adults can enjoy collaboratively.
• Master Baking Skills: Perfect for beginner bakers wanting to learn classic cake-making techniques without complicated processes.
• Customize with Confidence: Easily swap ingredients like sultanas or coconut to match personal taste preferences or dietary needs.
• Crowd-Pleasing Dessert: Guaranteed to impress guests with its rich flavors and professional-looking presentation at potlucks, birthdays, or casual gatherings.

What You’ll Need for Delia Smith Carrot Cake

• Flour: A light and fluffy foundation for the carrot cake.
• Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps with cake texture.
• Eggs: Bind ingredients and add structure to the cake.
• Vegetable Oil: Ensures moisture and softness in the cake.

• Bicarbonate of Soda: Helps the cake rise and become light.
• Mixed Spice: Adds warm, traditional flavoring to the cake.

• Carrots, Sultanas, Coconut: Bring moisture, natural sweetness, and interesting texture to the cake.
• Orange Zest: Provides a bright, citrusy background note.
• Pecans: Add crunch and nutty depth to the cake.

• Golden Syrup: Creates a sweet, sticky moisture for the cake.

• Cream Cheese: Forms the base of a rich, tangy frosting.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps create smooth frosting.
• Icing Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps set the frosting.

How to Bake Delia Smith Carrot Cake with Ease

Step 1: Prepare Baking Space

Warm up your oven to 170°C (gas mark 3). Grease two 20cm round cake pans and line with parchment paper for easy removal.

Step 2: Toast Nutty Goodness

Spread pecans on a baking sheet and toast in the oven for 8 minutes until fragrant. Let them cool completely, then chop into delightful pieces.

Step 3: Create Smooth Base

• Sugar
• Eggs
• Vegetable oil

Blend until the mixture becomes thick and silky smooth.

Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients

• All-purpose flour
• Bicarbonate of soda
• Warming spices

Gently fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, creating a luscious batter.

Step 5: Add Flavor Boosters

• Grated carrots
• Citrus zest
• Sultanas
• Shredded coconut
• Half of the toasted pecans

Blend everything until ingredients are evenly distributed.

Step 6: Fill Cake Pans

Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing the tops to ensure even baking.

Step 7: Bake to Perfection

Slide the pans into the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. The cake is ready when the center springs back when lightly touched.

Step 8: Create Moistening Syrup

While cakes are still hot, poke small holes across the surface. Prepare a syrup glaze and drizzle generously over the cakes. Allow to cool completely in the pans.

Step 9: Whip Up Creamy Frosting

Beat together cream cheese frosting ingredients until smooth and fluffy. Refrigerate briefly to set.

Step 10: Assemble Delightful Cake

Once completely cooled, carefully remove cakes from pans. Spread one-third of the frosting between layers, then cover the top and sides with remaining frosting.

Step 11: Final Garnish

Just before serving, scatter the remaining toasted pecans over the top for a crunchy, beautiful finish.

Handy Tips for Perfect Carrot Cake

• Toast Pecans Properly: Spread pecans evenly on a baking sheet and roast at 170C for exactly 8 minutes to enhance their nutty flavor without burning.
• Fold Flour Gently: Use a light folding technique when adding flour to maintain the cake's soft, tender texture and prevent dense, tough results.
• Check Cake Doneness Carefully: Press the cake center lightly – it should spring back immediately, indicating perfect baking without over-drying.
• Syrup Soaking Technique: While cakes are still hot, poke multiple holes and slowly drizzle syrup to ensure deep, even moisture throughout the cake.
• Chill Frosting for Perfect Spread: Refrigerate cream cheese icing for 15-20 minutes before applying to achieve a smooth, easy-to-spread consistency.

Great Twists on the Classic Carrot Cake Recipe

• Vegan Carrot Delight: Replace eggs with mashed banana or applesauce, use coconut oil instead of regular oil, and swap cream cheese frosting with cashew-based cream cheese alternative.
• Gluten-Free Garden Cake: Substitute wheat flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend, ensuring all other ingredients remain the same for a celiac-friendly version.
• Reduced Sugar Wellness Cake: Use stevia or monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, incorporate more grated carrots for natural sweetness, and reduce overall sugar content in frosting.
• Nut-Free Carrot Classic: Omit pecans completely, replace with sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for crunch, maintain original recipe's core ingredients and method.

What Goes Well with Delia Smith Carrot Cake

• Elevate Flavor Harmony: Rich Spice and Cream Pairing
• Match carrot cake with creamy chai latte, blending warm spices that echo the cake's cinnamon and nutmeg notes, creating a comforting taste experience.
• Complement the Sweetness: Dessert Wine Selection
• Select a late-harvest Riesling with honeyed undertones, balancing the cake's sweetness while cutting through its rich cream cheese frosting, delivering elegant sophistication.
• Textural Contrast: Nutty Beverage Companion
• Serve alongside a smooth almond milk cappuccino, which highlights the cake's pecan crunch and provides a delicate, nutty counterpoint to the dense, moist cake texture.

How to Store Delia Smith Carrot Cake Correctly

• Store wrapped cake in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Cover with plastic wrap or place in sealed container to prevent drying out.
• Wrap completely cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before serving.
• Cut individual portions, wrap separately in plastic wrap, then place in freezer bag. Thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before enjoying.
• Warm refrigerated cake slices in microwave for 15-20 seconds. For frozen cake, let thaw completely before gently warming in oven at 150C for 10 minutes to restore moisture and softness.

FAQs About Delia Smith’s Carrot Cake

• Why toast the pecans?

Toasting brings out the pecans’ natural oils and intensifies their nutty flavor, adding depth and richness to the carrot cake’s overall taste profile.

• Can I skip the sultanas?

While sultanas provide moisture and sweetness, you can substitute with raisins or omit them entirely if you prefer. The cake will still be delicious.

• What type of spice mix works best?

A classic combination of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger creates the traditional warm, aromatic flavor that complements the carrots perfectly.

• How do I know when the cake is properly baked?

When you gently press the center of the cake and it springs back without leaving an indentation, and a skewer inserted comes out clean, the cake is done.

Carrot Cake Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.8 from 19 reviews

• Total Time: 58 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Indulgent Carrot Cake brings classic comfort with a delightful twist of spices and creamy frosting. Sweet shredded carrots and warm cinnamon create a memorable dessert you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Cake Base:

• 200g (7 oz) wholemeal self-raising flour
• 175g (6.2 oz) dark brown soft sugar
• 200g (7 oz) carrots, coarsely grated
• 2 large eggs
• 150 milliliters (5 fluid ounces) sunflower oil
• 3 teaspoons mixed spice
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

Dried Fruits and Nuts:

• 110g (3.9 oz) sultanas
• 50g (1.8 oz) desiccated coconut
• 50g (1.8 oz) toasted pecans, chopped
• Zest of 1 orange

Frosting and Topping:

• 2 × 250g (17.6 oz) tubs mascarpone
• 75g (2.6 oz) dark brown soft sugar
• 50g (1.8 oz) toasted pecans (for topping)
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon golden caster sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Juice of 1 orange
• 2 tablespoons milk or orange juice

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 170C (gas mark 3) and prepare two 20cm round cake tins with grease and parchment paper.
2. Spread pecans on baking sheet and roast for 8 minutes until fragrant, then allow to cool completely and roughly chop.
3. Combine sugar, eggs, and oil in a large mixing bowl, whisking until the mixture becomes light and aerated.
4. Gently fold sifted flour, bicarbonate of soda, and spice into the wet ingredients, ensuring minimal mixing to maintain cake’s tenderness.
5. Incorporate grated carrots, citrus zest, sultanas, coconut, and half the toasted pecans, stirring until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
6. Transfer batter equally into prepared cake tins, smoothing surfaces for even baking.
7. Bake in preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes, checking doneness by gently pressing the centre – it should spring back when touched.
8. Prepare syrup glaze and immediately puncture warm cakes with small holes, drizzling syrup to enhance moisture and flavor.
9. Allow cakes to cool completely within the tins, promoting structural stability.
10. Whip cream cheese frosting until silky and consistent, refrigerating briefly to firm.
11. Carefully remove cooled cakes from tins and layer with one-third of frosting between layers.
12. Generously cover entire cake with remaining frosting, creating smooth exterior.
13. Just before serving, sprinkle remaining toasted pecans across top for textural contrast and visual appeal.

Notes

• Toasting pecans enhances their nutty flavor and provides a deeper, more complex taste profile for the cake.
• Always check cake doneness by gently pressing the center; it should spring back when fully baked, indicating perfect moisture and texture.
• Avoid overmixing batter to prevent a tough, dense cake; fold ingredients gently to maintain a light, tender crumb.
• For gluten-free adaptation, replace wheat flour with a reliable gluten-free blend and add xanthan gum for better structure.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 38 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 401
• Sugar: 38 g
• Sodium: 163 mg
• Fat: 26 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 37 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 51 mg