Homemade Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting

Classic carrot cake is filled with coconut and pecans and frosted with cream cheese frosting.

25 min.prep time 2:05total time
15 servings
5 4 Ratings

Ingredients

Cake

1 cup LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
3 LAND O LAKES® All-Natural Eggs
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, undrained
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup chopped pecans
4 medium (2 cups) carrots, grated

Frosting

3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla
Chopped pecans, if desired

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine 1 cup butter, brown sugar, sugar and eggs in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add mandarin oranges, 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and orange zest. Continue beating until well mixed.

Reduce speed to low; add flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Beat, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Stir in coconut, 1/2 cup pecans and carrots.

Pour into greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool completely.

Meanwhile, combine all frosting ingredients except chopped pecans in small bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth. Frost cooled cake. Sprinkle with pecans, if desired.

Nutrition Facts (1 serving)

Calories: 520

Fat: 24g

Cholesterol: 100mg

Sodium: 440mg

Carbohydrates: 72g

Dietary Fiber: 2g

Protein: 6g

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Recipe Comments & Reviews

5
I've been making this recipe since 1996 when I received the "Best Loved Recipes" Cookbook as a gift. This is far the best carrot cake recipe ever! The only thing that is different is I use walnuts as the cookbook requested....Everyone just absolutely loves it!
Posted Apr 10 2009 by Luanda
5
I omitted coconut from the cake & added lemon zest to the frosting.It's taste was great!
Posted Mar 04 2009 by sanaz
5
Excellent recipe!! Iget raves everytime I make this!
Posted Jan 07 2009 by Michelle
5
I am baking a carrot cake for a Cancer fund raising auction & planned to make my mom's recipe (which uses crushed pineapple) when I came across this recipe in the new brochure. I took both cakes to a USNA class function last week end & the Mandarin Orange Carrot cake won hands down. The grated orange peel really added some nice zest & I also added some fresh orange juice to the cream cheese frosting.
It makes a large cake so you might need extra large pans or make 3 layers. Bake time was 40-45 min.I think my cake will raise a lot of money for our Relay for Life Celebrity Cake Auction! The theme is..."Haven't you always wanted to eat dessert first?"
Posted Oct 06 2008 by Denise

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8/12/2010 8:31:44 PM by Becky
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My son Kyle’s senior year of college football is in full swing. Because he is living off-campus this year I knew I would be getting more than one last minute phone call asking if some of his teammates and he could come over for dinner. I wanted to be prepared so I decided I needed to stock my freezer with some easy-to-get-on-the-table entrees. Pasta is always a hit so I went to work preparing Stuffed Pasta Shells to have on hand for the “can we come over for dinner” request.

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