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This Carrot Bundt Cake is a delicious, soft, and moist cake made in a bundt pan and it’s made from scratch. Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is usually made around Easter but why wait for it? Carrot cake is great anytime and it makes for a nice presentation with chopped walnuts on top. 

Try these other delicious carrot cake recipes like The Best Carrot Cake (layered cake) and my Sheet Pan Carrot Cake Bars. 

A slice of carrot cake with frosting sitting atop a white plate.

Carrot Bundt Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot cake gets a bad rap for some reason. My family happens to love carrot cake which makes me happy because it’s one of my favorite desserts. This soft, moist, carrot bundt cake is filled with freshly shredded carrots, warm spices, and topped off with cream cheese frosting and chopped walnuts or pecans. 

Simple to make with basic baking ingredients and it’s one of those show-stopper desserts that look really pretty!

Overhead shot of a frosted bundt cake on a white plate.

Ingredients Needed

Read below for the ingredients you’ll need to make this bundt cake recipe. I also share some tips and helpful hints for each one. 

  • Butter – I use salted butter for all baking recipes but unsalted butter can be used as well. You may want to add just a touch of salt in with the dry ingredients if using unsalted butter. I would add about 1/2 teaspoon table salt. 
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Large Eggs
  • Whole Milk – It’s best to use whole milk when baking for the higher fat content. You could use 2% if wanted, but I highly recommend using the whole milk in this recipe. 
  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Ground Cinnamon
  • Baking Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Shredded Carrots – Do not buy a bag of pre-shredded carrots for this recipe. You will need a 1 pound bag of carrots and a cheese grater to shred them yourself. I prefer to shred carrots on the fine side of the cheese grater, but you can also shred them on the larger side that produces bigger and thicker shreds. 

Ingredients needed for this bundt carrot cake recipe with each one labeled in black text with what it is.

How to Make Carrot Bundt Cake

It’s fairly simple to make this bundt cake. You will either need a stand mixer or a mixing bowl + an electric hand mixer for this recipe. I prefer to use my stand mixer for cake recipes because I feel like it mixes better and it’s more hands off for me. 

Step One : Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Generously spray a 10-inch bundt pan with cooking spray or Baker’s Joy spray (cooking spray + flour).

Step Two : Cream together the melted butter and sugar until it resembles a sandy mixture. Add the eggs and milk, and beat for 1-2 minutes until the batter is combined and fluffy looking. Add the dry ingredients and mix on low speed just until no flour pockets remain. Gently stir in the shredded carrots, by hand with a spatula or wooden spoon, until combined. 

Step Three : Pour the carrot cake batter into the prepared bundt cake and cook for 40-45 minutes or until the cake is puffy looking and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry. 

Step Four : Allow the cake to cool in the bundt pan for 15 minutes before inverting it onto a plate or serving platter. 

Step Five : Once the cake has cooled completely, mix up the cream cheese frosting, and frost the bundt cake. Top with chopped walnuts or pecans. 

Step by step photos showing how to make this bundt cake recipe.

Step by step photos showing how to make this bundt cake recipe.

Step by step photos showing how to make this bundt cake recipe.

Step by step photos showing how to make this bundt cake recipe.

Tips For Success

Here are a few of my helpful tips for this carrot bundt cake recipe that will hopefully make this recipe a success in your own kitchen. 

  • Spray Bundt Pan Well : To avoid any of the cake sticking to the pan when you flip it over, be sure you spray the bundt pan well with cooking spray. You can also use Baker’s Joy spray which is cooking spray + flour. If you spray the bundt pan well, then you should have no problem with the cake sticking. 
  • Shredded Carrots : Please do not use the coarse and large shredded carrots that you can buy in a bag at the store. They are in too big of shreds and I just think they don’t mix in well with the batter. Shred your own carrots on a cheese grater. You can choose the fine shredder side or the larger/coarse shredder side of the cheese grater. I prefer shredding the carrots very small so I use the smaller side of the grater. 
  • Use Whole Milk : It’s best to use whole milk in baking recipes like this one. It’s thicker and has a higher fat content which is good for baked goods like cake and bundt cake recipes. 

Slice of bundt cake

Overhead shot of a bundt cake with two serving plates with a slice of it on each one.

Carrot Bundt Cake FAQs

  • Why Does Carrot Cake Taste Better the Day After It’s Made?
    • If you have ever had leftover carrot cake (or banana bread/cake) then you may have noticed that it tastes better on day 2 or day 3 after it’s made. This is because the cake has time for the flavors to blend together, which produces a better flavor. Also, the longer the cake sits, the more sweetness the shredded carrots will release into the cake, giving it a sweeter and more decadent flavor. 
  • Can I Make Carrot Bundt Cake Ahead of Time?
    • Yes you can! I actually prefer to make this bundt cake the day before I need it. I wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and leave it out at room temperature for 24 hours. I prepare the frosting the following day (day of serving) and then put it in the fridge for a couple of hours so it can be a little cold. 
    • If you want the flavors to develop more then make it 24 hours before you need to serve the cake. Bake the cake as directed and let it cool to room temperature. Tightly wrap the bundt cake in plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature. Frost the cake before serving. 
  • Can I Freeze Carrot Cake?
    • Yes you can freeze this carrot bundt cake. Prepare and bake according to recipe instructions. Once the cake has cooled to room temperature, wrap it in plastic wrap and then wrap it again in tin foil. Freeze for up to 2 months. 
    • When ready to serve, let the cake sit at room temperature, or in the fridge overnight, until it’s thawed through out. Prepare the frosting and frost the bundt cake before serving. 
  • What Is The Best Way to Store Carrot Cake Leftovers?
    • If the carrot bundt cake is frosted then you will need to store it in the fridge, wrapped well or in an air-tight container, for up to 5 days. 
    • If the carrot bundt cake is unfrosted then you can store at room temperature for 2 days. Any longer than 2 days and you will need to store it in the fridge for up to one week. 

Slice of carrot bundt cake on a silver serving spatula.

More Bundt Cake & Cake Recipes You’ll Love

 

Overhead shot of a bundt cake with frosting.
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Carrot Bundt Cake


Author Jessica - Together as Family
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 10
This Carrot Bundt Cake is a delicious, soft, and moist cake made in a bundt pan from scratch. Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is usually made around Easter but why wait for it? Carrot cake is great anytime and it makes for a nice presentation with chopped walnuts on top. 

Ingredients
  

Carrot Bundt Cake

  • 1/2 cup butter melted
  • 1½ cups granulated sugar
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • 2¼ cups finely shredded carrots

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • chopped walnuts or pecans for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat oven to 350° F. Generously spray a 10-inch bundt pan with cooking spray or Baker's Joy spray (cooking spray + flour). Set aside.

Make Carrot Bundt Cake

  • In the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or use a mixing bowl + hand mixer, beat together the melted butter and sugar until it resembles a wet sandy mixture.
  • Add in the eggs and whole milk. Mix until everything is fully incorporated, about 1-2 minutes.
  • Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda. Start on low speed, increasing speed as needed, and mix just until no flour pockets remain.
    * Scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to ensure that everything is mixed in well and to make sure no flour pockets are stuck on the bottom of the bowl.
  • Add the shredded carrots and gently fold them in by hand, using a wooden spoon or spatula, until evenly distributed through out the batter.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and smooth out the top.
  • Cook for 40-45 minutes or until the cake is done and a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean.
  • Let cool for 15 minutes in the bundt pan before inverting onto a plate, cooling rack, or serving platter to cool completely.
  • Once the cake is completely cooled you can frost it and serve it right away.
    Or you can prepare the bundt cake 24 hours ahead of time, let it cool to room temperature, and then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and let it sit at room temperature overnight, and then frost it the next day before serving.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or a mixing bowl + hand mixer, beat together the cream cheese and butter until creamy and combined well. Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beat until combined and creamy.
    * If you want a thinner frosting, try adding some milk in with the vanilla and powdered sugar. Not much. Start at 1 tablespoon and go from there if more is needed.
  • Use a piping bag to frost the bundt cake (like the pattern seen in the pictures) or you can use a knife or frosting spatula to spread it around the bundt cake.
    Top with chopped walnuts or pecans.

Notes

Butter : I use salted butter in the bundt cake and frosting. I prefer the little extra salt in the cream cheese frosting but unsalted butter can be used as well if that's what you prefer. If using unsalted butter in the bundt cake, I would recommend adding about 1/2 teaspoon table salt in with the dry ingredients. 
Tip : To avoid the butter being too hot when you add it in, here is a tip that I do anytime a recipe calls for melted butter. Put the butter into a microwave-safe bowl and microwave it for about 30 seconds. When it's done, there will be melted butter + soft chunks of butter. Take a fork and stir it until everything is melted together and smooth. This way the butter is melted but it's not piping hot because you only cooked it for a short time. 
Nutrition Information : The information listed is for 10 servings of this bundt cake. It also includes 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts on top of the frosting. I prefer walnuts but pecans can also be used, or feel free to leave them off entirely. 
Carrots : Don't buy pre-shredded carrots for this recipe. They're too big, thick, and long and don't mix in nicely. Instead, buy a 1 pound bag of carrots and grate them on a cheese grater. I prefer the finer, smaller side of the grater but you can grate them on the coarse and larger side if wanted. No need to peel the carrots before shredding them. 
Leftovers : If the carrot bundt cake is frosted then you will need to store it in the fridge, wrapped well or in an air-tight container, for up to 5 days. If it's unfrosted then you can store at room temperature for 2 days. Any longer than 2 days and you will need to store it in the fridge for up to one week. 
Make it Ahead of Time? : Yes you can! I actually prefer to make this bundt cake the day before I need it. I wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and leave it out at room temperature for 24 hours. I prepare the frosting the following day (day of serving) and then put it in the fridge for a couple of hours so it can be a little cold. Making it ahead of time also allows the flavors to develop more and the cake gets softer too. 

Nutrition

Calories: 586kcal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 323mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 5397IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 162mg | Iron: 2mg

Did You Make This Recipe?

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Close up shot of frosting on top of a bundt cake.

 

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2 Comments

  1. Can you freeze the cake and then thaw and frost it?

    1. Together as Family says:

      I’ve never tried it but I can’t think of a reason why it wouldn’t work.