Easy Italian Carrot Cake

Easy Italian Carrot Cake

perfect for snack or dessert

Reviewed by Arturs Arnicans
Prep Time: 15m
Cook Time: 35m
Total Time: 50m
Temp.: 350 °F
Servings: 8
Difficulty: Easy
5.0 (15 Reviews)
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Ingredients

Adjust servings:

For cream cheese frosting:

Nutritional Information

587
calories
28g
fat
81g
carbohydrates
7g
protein
140mg
cholesterol
267mg
sodium
Easy Italian Carrot Cake

Recipe Description

This Easy Italian Carrot Cake is a soft, dense and flavorful cake made with puréed fresh carrots, hinted with orange zest, and topped with sweet cream cheese frosting. Excellent with a glass of milk or a cup of tea. If you want to make the cake taller, use a 7-inch bundt cake pan.

Start by preheating the oven to 350 °F and preparing a cake pan. Grease and flour the pan, making sure to get in all of the cracks and crevices. Next, whisk together the dry ingredients. Place the chopped carrots in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add in the melted butter and blend until creamy. In a large bowl, beat together the eggs and sugar, then add in the orange zest and carrot mixture and mix to combine. Add in the flour mixture in batches, mixing until smooth. Finally, pour in the milk. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and bake until a cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then use a rubber spatula to release the cake from the sides. Invert it on a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting. 

To make the Easy Italian Carrot Cake, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients for Easy Italian Carrot Cake

Steps to make

  1. 1

    Heat oven and prepare cake pan

    5 min
    Step 1 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    Preheat the oven to 350 °F and grease and flour an 8-inch (20-cm) cake or 7-inch (18-cm) bundt pan. Set aside.

  2. 2

    Mix dry ingredients

    2 min
    Step 2 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups pastry flour, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, and a pinch of salt.

  3. 3

    Make carrot butter puree

    2 min
    Step 3 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    In a food processor, add the chopped carrots and pulse until finely chopped. Add ⅔ cup melted and cooled butter and blend until creamy. Set aside.

  4. 4

    Beat eggs and sugar

    2 min
    Step 4 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    In a large bowl or a stand mixer bowl, beat together 2 eggs and ¾ cup granulated sugar for one minute on medium speed.

  5. 5

    Add orange zest and carrot mixture

    1 min
    Step 5 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    Add the zest of 1 orange and carrot mixture and mix to combine.

  6. 6

    Add flour mixture and milk

    2 min
    Step 6 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    Add the flour mixture in batches, mixing until smooth. Then add in ¼ cup milk and beat to combine.

  7. 7

    Pour batter into cake pan

    1 min
    Step 7 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan, smoothing the top.

  8. 8

    Bake

    35 min
    Step 8 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    Bake the carrot cake for about 35-40 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

  9. 9

    Cool

    Step 9 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then use a rubber spatula to release the cake from the sides. Invert it on a wire cooling rack to cool completely before frosting.

  10. 10

    Make cream cheese frosting

    2 min
    Step 10 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    In a medium bowl, beat together ¼ cup softened butter and ¼ cup softened cream cheese until creamy, about 1 minute. Add 2 ½ cups powdered sugar a little at a time. While beating, add 2-3 tablespoons milk or cream, and beat for about 3 minutes until fluffy. To thin the frosting, add more milk or cream. To make it thicker, add more powdered sugar.

  11. 11

    Frost

    1 min
    Step 11 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    Top the cake with the prepared cream cheese frosting.

  12. 12

    Serve

    Step 12 - Easy Italian Carrot Cake

    Slice, serve and enjoy!

This Easy Italian Carrot Cake is soft, dense and so flavorful. Top the cake with cream cheese frosting or skip the frosting and serve the Italian way, decorated with a dusting of powdered sugar. Did you make this recipe? Tag @cookmerecipes on Instagram and hashtag it #cookmerecipes

About the author

Jelena Mardere

Jelena is an interior designer and young mom! As a busy working mom, her time is precious so she’s always looking for a quick and efficient way to get things done. Jelena is very creative, but has a strong practical side. She loves trying new things and travels a lot, especially around Europe. The kitchen is Jelena’s safe space, where she can let her creative side out and dedicate herself to her favorite hobby - cooking!

Recipe Reviews

Have you made this recipe? Share your experience and help other cooks!

★★★★★
★★★★★
5.0 out of 5 (15 reviews)
Úrsula Fernández
May 31, 2025
Verified

Hice esta tarta para el cumple de mi esposo y fue todo un éxito. Suave y deliciosa, ¡la mejor opción para sorprender!

Joy
April 12, 2025
Verified

Delicious! I made this cake for my husband's birthday, and everyone was so impressed. It vanished quickly!

Zara
August 18, 2024
Verified

Amazing! Made this for my friends and they couldn’t believe it was homemade. It reminded me of my grandma’s kitchen during the holidays. So good!

Winnie
June 25, 2024
Verified

This cake is so easy! Made it for my hubby's bday.

Nina
March 13, 2024
Verified

Delicious! Made it for my husband’s birthday, and it was a hit with everyone at the party. So moist and flavorful.

Joy
February 28, 2024
Verified

So Yummy Delicious!

Frank Johnson
January 8, 2024
Verified

OMG, this carrot cake is a game-changer! Made it for my wife's party and wow!

Queenie
November 17, 2023
Verified

This Easy Italian Carrot Cake turned out superb! My kids loved helping me mix in the carrotts and orange zest. It was such a hit at our family gathering. The cream cheese frosting is sooo good, it was gone in no time. Can't wait to make this again for my husband's birthday!

Vanessa
October 23, 2023
Verified

I was sooooo excited to try this Easy Italian Carrot Cake for my husband’s birthday. It turned out super moist and flavorful! We paired it with tea and it was perfect. The orange zest really takes it to the next level. Definitely a new fave in our home.

Ella
September 17, 2023
Verified

So easy, wow!

Vincent
August 8, 2023
Verified

Delicious!

Olivia Johnson
July 16, 2023
Verified

Delicious

Gregory Turner
May 24, 2023
Verified

Superb carrot cake!

Zoe89
March 12, 2023
Verified

This cake is so yummy. I made it for my friends and they loved it.

Athina
March 9, 2023
Verified

I love carrot cake! Yummy! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

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