Lindsay’s Favorite Carrot Cake

Published: March 2026
Author: Lindsay @ Heritage Cookbook
Recipe origin: Canada

I came across this recipe 20 years ago at a tree planting camp where I was the baker (then cook) for four summers. In addition to shredded carrots it’s chock-full of warm spices, toasted pecans, and shredded coconut, all offset by a not-too-sweet cream cheese frosting that’s as essential to this cake as the carrots are.

FOR THE CAKE:
2 cups (240 grams) all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon sea salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
2 cups (400 grams) granulated sugar
1¼ cups (225 grams) vegetable or canola oil
4 large eggs, at room temperature
3 cups (290 grams) shredded carrots (from about 4 large carrots)
1 cup (105 grams) chopped toasted pecans (chop them fairly finely to make cutting the finished cake easier)
1 cup (90 grams) unsweetened toasted coconut flakes (optional, also chopped up a bit to make cutting easier)

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
16 ounces (450 grams) cream cheese, at room temperature (use two full bricks)
½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups (240 grams) confectioners’ sugar, sifted (start with slightly less, and taste as you go)
Splash of vanilla
Big pinch of salt
Extra toasted pecan halves, for decorating

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease the sides and bottoms of two 10-inch round cake pans (or three 8-inch pans) with butter and press a circle of parchment into the bottom of each. [Using just 2 pans still makes a fairly tall cake.]
In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together sugar and oil. Add eggs, one at a time, whisking until combined after each addition. Stir in flour mixture with a rubber spatula until there is just a bit of dry flour showing. Add shredded carrots, pecans, and coconut and stir until thoroughly combined and evenly distributed.
Divide batter equally between the prepared cake pans. Bake for 35-50 minutes, until a cake tester or toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool in the pans on a wire rack for 15 minutes, then carefully turn the cakes out onto the rack to cool completely.
To make the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth/slightly whipped. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add confectioners’ sugar. When all the powdered sugar has been added, turn the speed up to medium and beat until fluffy, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and stir by hand a bit to make sure everything is fully incorporated.
When the cake layers have cooled, level the cakes with a serrated knife if necessary. Place one cake layer on a serving plate. Spread a thick layer of frosting on top of the cake with an offset spatula. Place the other cake layer on top of the frosting, flat side up. Spread a crumb coat of frosting on the top and sides of the cake with an offset spatula, then chill the cake in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.
Ice the cake with the remaining frosting. Allow the cake to chill for at least 30 minutes for the frosting to firm up a bit.

Ready to turn your recipes into something memorable? Click here to get started!

Easy Lemon Frosting Cupcake Recipe For Your Family Cookbook

festive cupcake
Ingredient list

1 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 tsp. grated lemon peel
1 tsp. vanilla
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups sour cream (16oz.)

Frosting:
3 Tbs. butter, softened
2 1/4 cups confectioner’s sugar
2 Tbs. lemon juice
3/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. grated lemon peel
1-2 Tbs. milk
Instructions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in lemon peel and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream, beating well after each addition (batter will be thick).
Fill cupcake papers with 1/4 cup of batter.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes.

Frosting:
Cream butter and confectioners sugar in a small mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Add lemon juice, vanilla, lemon peel and milk; beat until smooth.

Ready to turn your recipes into something memorable? Click here to get started!

Easy pound cake

loaf hor
Ingredient list

1/2 pound butter
1 1/2 cup white sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
5 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions

Cream butter and sugar well. Add eggs one at a time beating after each egg. Add flour in three parts beating after each addition til mixed well.

Bake 350 for 1 hour

Ready to turn your recipes into something memorable? Click here to get started!

Cinnamon Sour Cream Coffee Cake For Your Family Cook

Cinnamon cake
Ingredient list

1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsps melted butter
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 baking pan (I use a loaf pan)
2. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Mix in 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Spread 1/2 of batter in the prepared pan.
3. Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl mix 1/3 cup flour, brown sugar, 2 Tbsp melted butter, and cinnamon. Sprinkle cake batter with 1/2 the filling. Spread second half of batter over the filling, and top with remaining filling.
4. Bake 35-40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Ready to turn your recipes into something memorable? Click here to get started!

Cinnamon Sour Cream Coffee Cake For Your Family Cook

Ingredient list

1 cup butter
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 Tbsps melted butter
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9×13 baking pan (I use a loaf pan)
2. In a large bowl, cream together 1 cup butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Mix in 2 cups flour, baking powder, and salt. Spread 1/2 of batter in the prepared pan.
3. Prepare the filling: In a medium bowl mix 1/3 cup flour, brown sugar, 2 Tbsp melted butter, and cinnamon. Sprinkle cake batter with 1/2 the filling. Spread second half of batter over the filling, and top with remaining filling.
4. Bake 35-40 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake For Your Recipe Book

apple-cake_1

apple-cake_3
Prep Time: 20 min.
Total Time: 1 hour 20 min.

Ingredients

Streusel:

1 ½ cups flour
½ cup packed brown sugar
½ tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Cake batter:

3 apples, peeled, cored and cut into ¼-inch dice
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup packed brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus 2 tbsp
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 cup 2% plain yogurt

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 9” tube pan or large bundt.

2. Toss together chopped apples with 2 tbsp flour. Set aside.

3. Make streusel. In a medium sized bowl combine flour, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and melted butter. Mix together until mixture forms lumps and flour is fully combine with butter.

4. In the bowl of a stand mixer combine butter and sugar. Beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1-2 min. Add in eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add vanilla and mix to combine.

5. In a separate bowl combine 3 cups all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. On low speed add 1/3 of flour mixture, then add 1/3 of yogurt. Continue adding flour mixture and yogurt, alternating, until fully combined. Mix in apples just until combined.

6. Pour batter into prepared pan. Add streusel to the top in an even layer. Bake for 1 hour until golden brown and a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean. Let cool on a wire rack for 10 mins., before removing from tin to cool completely.

Fruit Cobbler For Your Recipe Book

IMG_9390

IMG_9478
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

Filling:
5 cups mixed berries
1 tbsp cornstarch
¼ cup sugar

Dough:
1 cup flour
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
¼ cup butter, cut into small cubes
1/3 cup milk

Preparation Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. In a 9 x 9” baking pan mix together berries, cornstarch and sugar.
3. In a large mixing bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Cut butter into flour mixture and rub in using fingertips until small chunks remain. Pour in milk and mix until just combined. Dollop batter over top of fruit mixture in pan.
4. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until topping is golden brown and fruit is bubbling. Serve with ice cream.

Orange Chiffon Cake from Burlapkitchen.com

Thanks to our friend Emily over at Burlap Kitchen for sharing her Grandmothers famous Orange Chiffon Cake. It’s a classic recipe that dates back to the 1940s and we think is worthy of a comeback!
Orange Chiffon Cake_1

Orange Chiffon Cake_4

Orange Chiffon Cake_5

Ingredients:

2 1/4 Cups flour (sifted)
1 1/2 Cups sugar
3 Teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 Cup oil
7 egg yolks
3 medium oranges (for the zest and juice)
3/4 Cup orange juice or water Juice 3 oranges in a 3/4 measuring cup, then add water till you get 3/4 cups of liquid
2 teaspoons vanilla
7 egg whites
1/2 teaspoon cream of tarter (beat egg whites and cream of tarter together on high speed for 4 minutes)
2 teaspoons orange zest ( fold into egg whites)

Preparation Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Zest and juice oranges and set aside. In a mixing bowl add dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix well. In a separate bowl add wet ingredients: oil, egg yolks, juice and water, vanilla. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until it looks like cake batter. In a third bowl add egg whites and cream of tartar, beat on high for 4 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Gently add the egg white mixture to the bowl of batter. Pour batter into a greased angel food cake pan or chiffon pan ( do NOT use a bundt cake pan, trust me!). Take center rack out of oven and position the other oven rack two up from the bottom. Bake at 325 degrees for 55 minutes. Let cake cool for 10-15 minutes. Use a knife to loosen the cake from the edges of the pan and carefully turn out onto a tea cloth. Let cake cool completely. Ice cake and enjoy.

Thick Glaze:

Ingredients:

1 orange (zest and juice)
3 cups 10 X Sugar (powdered sugar, icing sugar)
1/2 stick butter (room temp.)
2 tablespoons juice from orange (may be just under 2 tablespoons, if so add milk to make a full 2 Tablespoons
1 tablespoon milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Preparation Instructions:

In a mixing bowl add 10x sugar, butter, juice from orange, milk, and vanilla. Use a hand mixer and beat until smooth. Fold in orange zest, saving a little to sprinkle on top of the cake.

“Better Than Sex” Cake For Your Recipe Book

Better Than Sex Cake_1

Better Than Sex Cake_3

Better Than Sex Cake_2
Prep Time: 10 min.
Total Time: 40 min, plus cake cooling time.

Ingredients

1 box chocolate cake mix
1 cup 35% whipping cream
3 tbsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup toffee pieces
1 cup desiccated coconut flakes

Preparation Instructions

1. Cook chocolate cake in a 9 x 13 inch baking pan according to package directions. Let cool completely.
2. Whip cream with an electric hand mixer until stiff. Mix in sugar and vanilla. Spread whipped cream over top of cooled chocolate cake. Top with toffee pieces and coconut flakes.

Strawberry Pretzel Salad For Your Recipe Book

Strawberry Jello Salad_1

Strawberry Jello Salad_2
Prep Time: 20 min.
Total Time: 4 to 5 hours

Ingredients

Bottom Layer:

2 cups finely crushed pretzels
¼ cup sugar
½ cup butter, melted

Middle Layer:

1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese
1 pkg (8 oz) cool whip
¼ cup sugar

Top Layer:

1 pkg (6 oz) Strawberry Jello
2 cups boiling water
1 ½ cups cold water
4 cups sliced strawberries

Preparation Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with parchment paper.
2. Mix crushed pretzels with sugar and butter. Press mixture evenly into prepared baking dish. Press with the back of a spoon or measuring cup. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes. Let cool.
3. With an electric mixer beat together cream cheese, cool whip and sugar until well combined and smooth. Spread mixture evenly over cooled pretzel base. Refrigerate while you make the top layer.
4. In a large bowl mix together Jello powder with boiling water. Whisk well to combine and have powder completely dissolve. Whisk in cold water. Refrigerate for about 1 hour, or until thickened slightly. Stir in sliced strawberries. Pour over cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until completely set, about 3 to 4 hours. Slice into squares to serve.

71 queries in 0.147 seconds.