Description
Ina Garten’s carrot pineapple cake blends sweet tropical notes with classic carrot cake comfort. Moist layers of spiced batter showcase pineapple’s rich flavor, creating a delightful dessert you’ll savor with each memorable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp all-purpose flour (for coating)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 ⅓ cups vegetable oil
- 1 pound carrots, grated
- ¾ pound cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ pound unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1 pound confectioners’ sugar
- 1 cup raisins
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsps cinnamon
- 2 tsps baking soda
- 1 ½ tsps salt
- 1 cup fresh pineapple, diced (divided into ½ cup for cake, ½ cup for frosting)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper, then flour lightly to prevent sticking.
- Wet Mixture: Whisk together sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs until pale and creamy. Blend in vanilla extract thoroughly.
- Dry Ingredients: Sift flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt, ensuring a lump-free mixture.
- Batter Creation: Merge dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring methodically to create a smooth batter. Lightly coat raisins and walnuts with flour to prevent sinking.
- Incorporate Fruits: Gently fold grated carrots and diced pineapple into the batter, ensuring even distribution for consistent flavor and texture.
- Baking Process: Divide batter evenly between prepared pans. Bake for 55-60 minutes, testing doneness with a toothpick that should come out clean.
- Cooling: Remove cakes from oven and cool completely on a wire rack to maintain optimal texture.
- Frosting Preparation: Whip cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until silky. Gradually add confectioners’ sugar, mixing until smooth and spreadable.
- Assembly and Decoration: Layer cake with frosting, covering entire surface. Adorn top with fresh pineapple pieces for a vibrant finishing touch.
Notes
- Prevent Ingredient Sinking: Coat raisins and nuts with a light flour dusting to stop them from settling at the cake’s bottom during baking.
- Moisture Magic: Use vegetable oil instead of butter to create an incredibly moist and tender cake texture that stays soft for days.
- Temperature Precision: Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before mixing to guarantee smooth blending and consistent cake structure.
- Frosting Finesse: Chill cream cheese and butter briefly before whipping to achieve a perfectly smooth, lump-free frosting that spreads effortlessly.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 66g
- Sodium: 400mg
- Fat: 38g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 63g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 100mg