Carrot Cake Bundt Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Name: Carrot Cake Bundt Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 55 min
Ingredients: 1/2 cup butter (softened at room temperature, 1 stick salted); 1½ cups granulated sugar; 4 large eggs (at room temperature); 1 cup whole milk; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; ¾ teaspoon baking powder; ¾ teaspoon baking soda; 2¼ cups finely shredded carrots; 8 ounces cream cheese (softened at room temperature); 1/4 cup butter (softened, 4 Tablespoons); 2 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; chopped pecans or walnuts

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This Carrot Bundt Cake recipe is perfect for any occasion. It’s moist, rich, and full of warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The addition of grated carrots adds a subtle sweetness and keeps the cake incredibly tender.

Bundt cake with cream cheese frosting on a white serving plate.

Are you a carrot cake lover and want another delicious recipe that will impress your guests? Check out this Carrot Cake Loaf recipe for a tasty cake that is full of classic carrot cake flavor.

Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Bundt cakes are one of my favorite cakes to make because you don’t have to worry about stacking cake layers and keeping them from falling.
You only need simple ingredients that you most likely already have on hand in your kitchen, so you don’t have to take a trip to the store.
It’s a simple cake to make for Easter dessert or any holiday when you want to impress your guests.

Do you want to make a chocolate cake instead of carrot cake? If so, check out this Rocky Road Cake recipe. It’s always a crowd-favorite also.

Ingredients Needed

The best part about this original carrot cake recipe is that you don’t need a lot of specialty ingredients, so you won’t have to break the bank to make your next dessert recipe. Grab these ingredients the next time you are in the store so you can share this tasty dessert with your friends and family.

butter, room temperature. I use salted butter for this cake.
granulated sugar
large eggs
whole milk
all-purpose flour
ground cinnamon
nutmeg
leavening agents, baking powder, and baking soda. Make sure these ingredients are fresh and they have not expired.
finely shredded carrots

Cream Cheese Frosting

cream cheese, softened
butter, softened
powdered sugar
vanilla extract
chopped pecans or walnuts

Overhead view of a carrot cake bundt cake on a white serving platter with a slice ready to be placed on a plate.

How to Make This Carrot Bundt Cake Recipe

Making this perfect cake is so simple. Just follow these step-by-step instructions and you will have a good carrot cake to share with your family in no time at all.

Step 1: Mix the wet ingredients.

In a large mixing bowl whip the butter and sugar until light and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time mixing well, then add the milk and whip until fully incorporated.

Step 2: Combine the dry ingredients.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and baking soda, then on low speed add to the butter mix 1/4 cup at a time increasing speed as needed combining all the ingredients.

Step 3: Fold in the carrots.

With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold in the shredded carrots mixing until the carrots are evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Shredded carrots folded into cake batter in a clear mixing bowl.

Step 4: Prepare the bundt cake pan.

Prepare the bundt pan by greasing it and lightly flouring the pan making sure the creaves are covered. You can use baking cooking spray.

Step 5: Pour the batter into a bundt pan.

Pour the prepared batter into the bundt pan and smooth the top. Drop the pan from 2” on a flat surface to remove bubbles in the batter.

Cake batter in a bundt pan before baking.

Step 6: Bake the cake.

Bake for 45-55 minutes or until the cake is done and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Let cool for 10-15 minutes in the bundt pan, then flip onto a cooling rack. Cool completely before placing on a serving plate or cake stand.

Step 7: Make the frosting.

To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese, vanilla, and butter until creamy and combined well. Gradually add in the powdered sugar and whisk until combined and creamy. Add the frosting to a piping bag.

Step 8: Frost the cake.

Start in the center on top of a ridge or between a ridge and pipe the frosting over the curve of your cake but not going all the way down the side. Repeat this around the whole cake. You can also use a knife or frosting spatula to spread it around the bundt cake.

Cream cheese frosting on on a cooled carrot cake.

What To Serve With This Dish

I love to serve this cake with our Easter favorites such as a baked ham topped with this Ham Glaze recipe, along with sides such as Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes or Roasted Green Beans with Parmesan and Garlic.

Substitutions and Additions

Here are a few ways that you can personalize this sweet treat recipe to suit your taste buds.

You can add some chopped nuts or chocolate chips to the batter for added texture and flavor.
For an extra indulgent treat, drizzle melted chocolate over the top of the cake after it has been frosted.
To make a glaze instead of frosting, mix powdered sugar and milk until the desired consistency is reached. Drizzle over cooled cake.
If you would like to make a layered cake you can use two 8-inch cake pans in place of the bundt pan.

A slice of carrot cake bunt cake on a white plate.

How To Store

Store the cake in an airtight container or cake plate at room temperature for up to 3 days. You can also freeze the cake, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and foil, for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.

Sandra’s Pro Tips

Here are a few tips that you can use to ensure that moist carrot cake turns out perfectly for you every time that you bake it.

I’ve found that fresh carrots that you shred yourself taste much better in this cake than the pre-shredded carrots that you can buy at the grocery store.
Make sure all ingredients are at room temperature before beginning. This helps the batter to mix evenly and results in a better texture.
If you don’t have a pastry bag you can improvise by cutting the tip of the corner of a large ziplock bag.
Lastly, don’t forget to let your cake cool completely before frosting. Warm cakes will cause the frosting to melt and slide off, resulting in a messy presentation. Trust me, I’ve learned this lesson the hard way!

A whole cake on a white serving platter topped with cream cheese frosting.

FAQs

Do you have questions about this homemade carrot cake bundt cake recipe? If so, here are the answers to the most commonly asked questions for this recipe.

Why is a Bundt cake better than a regular cake?

Bundt cakes are shaped in a ring or fluted pan, which allows for more even baking and distribution of heat. This results in a moist and evenly cooked cake, whereas a regular cake may have uneven edges or be overcooked on the outside and undercooked on the inside.

Why is my carrot cake rubbery?

One possible reason is overmixing the batter, which can cause the gluten in the flour to develop too much and create a tough texture. Another reason could be using too much oil or not incorporating enough moisture into the batter.

Are you supposed to flip a Bundt cake?

Yes, flipping a Bundt cake is an important step in the baking process. After removing the cake from the oven, let it cool for about 10 minutes before gently loosening the edges with a knife or spatula. Then place a plate or cooling rack on top of the pan and carefully flip it over to release the cake.

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