Easy Carrot Snack Cake
Spring is coming and with that Easter. Carrot cake is a traditional cake served at this time of year but sometimes you don’t have the time to do a layer cake compared to an Easy Carrot Snack Cake!! A snack cake is easy to make, easy to ice, and easy to serve. A complete win, win as it is just as delicious.
In a lot of carrot cake recipes, there is loads of oil as it is usually not a butter-based cake. To reduce some of that fat I substituted applesauce, which in my opinion just adds more flavor yet still keeps the cake just as moist. Try another one of our great recipes with our Coffee Cupcakes with Caramel Filling.
I love a carrot cake that has loads of wonderful ingredients like pineapple, coconut and walnuts plus all the earthy spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. This cake is moist and tender and people will be coming back for seconds and thirds!!
A large 9×13″ pan of cake can feed a crowd. There is still that wonderful cream cheese frosting that everyone loves so much with carrot cake.
This cake cuts beautifully!! Get your forks ready as your piece is coming!! For a crowd or a casual dinner this Easy Carrot Snack Cake will be the hit for dessert. It also would make a perfect ending to a Mother’s or Father’s Day brunch!!
I always use the small individual applesauce containers so not to open up a big jar and have the rest leftover. I also decided to use 1/2 the amount of oil to applesauce and just measured it right in the little applesauce cup.
The Recipe
Easy Carrot Snack Cake
Easy Carrot Snack Cake is a classic cake made easy to feed a crowd at anytime, from brunch to dessert!
Ingredients
Cake
- 200 ml. (7 oz.) applesauce
- 100 ml. (3.5 oz.) canola oil
- 2 cups sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 2 cups flour
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 2 cups carrots, grated
- 1 cup flaked sweetened coconut
- 100 gm. (3.5 oz.) walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, not drained
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1/4 cup butter
- 8 oz. light cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 1/2 cups icing sugar
Instructions
- Prepare a 9x13" pan by lightly greasing. Preheat oven to 350F.
- Beat together in a bowl of a standup mixer with a paddle attachment the applesauce, oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Add slowly to the applesauce mixture. Fold in the carrots, coconut, walnuts and pineapple.
- Pour into the prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- For the frosting: In the a standup mixer with a paddle attachment beat the butter with the cream cheese until fluffy. Add in the vanilla and icing sugar slowly. Beat until smooth. Ice the cooled cake and refrigerate until cooled and set.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
Ahh! I can’t wait to make this. It looks SO GOOD. Carrot cake is my favorite, so I know I’ll love this.
Jeanette says
This looks SO good! My kiddo loves carrot cake, I might have to surprise him with this cake! YUM!
Meagan says
Um yum!!!! Carrot cake is amazing! I think I would snack on this alll day!
Marcie W. says
Carrot cake is one of my all time favorites and this one looks amazing! That cream cheese frosting is just an added bonus, or the icing on the cake if you will.
Nancy @ whispered inspirations says
That looks so yummy! My daughter loves carrot cake and shes going to love your recipe!
Claudia Krusch says
It looks like an amazing recipe! Sooooo good! I can’t wait to try it!
Melissa says
That carrot cake looks like a keeper and I love carrot cake. I especially like it with all that good stuff like walnuts and pineapple inside.
Dawn McAlexander says
It looks so moist and tasty. I really love the icing. I would love to try this recipe soon.
Jeni Hawkins says
This looks so delicious! Carrot cake has always bren one of my favoritr desserts.
Pam says
Carrot cakes always remind me of my dad. They used to be his favorite dessert.
Sinisa says
Yum. Just irresistible. You really can’t beat carrot cake.
SHELLEY R ZUREK says
I am allergic to nuts. I know they are almost essential in a carrot cake but how do you think it would taste without them?
Tara Noland says
It would still be very delicious. I do see recipes without the nuts. Enjoy!!
Jewelee says
I made this cake for the family last night, with carrots from the garden, and it was AMAZING! Definitely putting it into the recipe book for future use!
Tara Noland says
So glad you loved it, it is one of our favorites too. Thanks for taking the time to tell us.