Chocolate Carrot Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting

Revealed 4/6/2022, Final up to date 4/7/2022 by Stef

Disclosure: As an Amazon Affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Consider chocolate carrot cake as a cross between a Texas sheet cake, a Mexican chocolate cake, and a traditional carrot cake. Or, simply consider it as its personal particular deal with as a result of there actually is nothing fairly prefer it.

Cocoa powder, chocolate chips, cinnamon, pecans, and carrots create a showstopper cake, made even higher with the addition of chocolate cream cheese frosting.

Substances

Top down view of chocolate carrot cake ingredients

There are lots of components on this recipe, however the good factor is that they're virtually all pantry fundamentals.

Right here are some things to remember as you collect them collectively:

I take advantage of darkish brown sugar for a powerful taste, however don’t exit and purchase it particular. Gentle brown sugar will work nicely.
There's a small quantity of bitter cream within the recipe for moisture and tang. You may substitute yogurt when you have that available.
The recipe requires 3 cups of meals processed carrots – this takes about 6 small carrots or 3 massive ones. I take advantage of natural carrots and I don’t peel them first – I simply scrub them nicely. If you happen to don’t have a meals processor, you may grate the carrots with a hand-held grater as a substitute.
I take advantage of darkish chocolate chips. If you happen to desire semi-sweet and even white chocolate chips, these would additionally work nicely.

How It’s Made

Begin by whisking collectively the dry components – flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set these apart.

Whisking dry ingredients in a glass bowl

Subsequent, cream the butter with the brown sugar and white sugar. This takes about three minutes with an electrical mixer.

Combine within the eggs, separately. Then add the oil, bitter cream, and vanilla extract.

Combine the carrots in.

Carrot pouring into bowl of a stand mixer

Then, combine within the dry components a bit of bit at a time till simply mixed.

Adding dry ingredients to the bowl of a stand mixer from a yellow measuring cup

Gently combine within the nuts and chocolate chips.

Pour chopped pecans into the bowl of a stand mixer from a glass bowl

Pour into well-greased a 9″x11″ baking pan and bake at 350 F till a toothpick comes out with nothing caught to it – about 35 minutes.

Set it out to chill for an least one hour earlier than frosting. Then, unfold chocolate cream cheese frosting evenly excessive of the cake. I like so as to add a bit of texture with the again of a spoon.

Spreading chocolate cream cheese frosting on chocolate carrot cake

If you happen to’d like, embellish with chopped pecans and extra chocolate chips.

Top down shop of a slice of chocolate carrot cake on a white plate with a fork

Skilled Ideas and FAQs

Can I make this as a layer cake?

Sure, bake it in two 9″ rounds and frost between the layers and on prime of the cake. You gained’t want to regulate the quantity of batter.

How lengthy does this cake final for?

Retailer at room temperature for as much as 3 days, refrigerate for every week, or freeze for months.

Can I omit the nuts?

If you happen to don’t like nuts or if there's a nut allergy in your family, you may positively go away them out. You may think about including in raisins or coconut so as to add to the complexity of the cake.

Associated Recipes

Chocolate Carrot Cake

Do not anticipate chocolate carrot cake to style like a traditional carrot cake – the chocolate positively dominates. Cocoa powder, chocolate chips, cinnamon, pecans, and carrots create a showstopper cake, made even higher with the addition of chocolate cream cheese frosting.

Complete Time 2
hours
5
minutes

Cake Directions

Preheat oven to 350 F.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk collectively flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Put aside
In a big bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer, cream butter with sugar and brown sugar till gentle and fluffy. This takes about three minutes with an electrical mixer.
Combine in eggs, separately.
Combine in oil, bitter cream, and vanilla extract.
Combine in carrots.
Combine the dry components into the moist combination a bit of bit at a time till simply mixed.
Gently combine within the nuts and chocolate chips.
Pour right into a well-greased a 9″x11″ baking pan and bake till a toothpick comes out with nothing caught to it – about 35 minutes.
Set it out to chill for an least one hour earlier than frosting.

Frosting Directions

Combine butter till easy and creamy – about 3 minutes utilizing a stand mixer on excessive pace.
Add cream cheese and blend till fully mixed.
Combine in powdered sugar, one cup at a time.
Combine in cocoa powder and salt till absolutely mixed.
Unfold frosting evenly excessive of the cooled cake. Optionally, use the again of a spoon to create a bit of texture within the frosting.
If you would like, embellish with chopped pecans and extra chocolate chips.

Retailer at room temperature for as much as 3 days, refrigerate for every week, or freeze for months.
To make this as a layer cake, bake in two 9″ rounds and frost between the layers and on prime of the cake. You gained’t want to regulate the quantity of batter.
If you happen to don’t like nuts or if there's a nut allergy in your family, you may positively go away them out. You may think about including in raisins or coconut so as to add to the complexity of the cake.