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Home » Recipes » Cakes & Cupcakes Recipes

Mini Carrot Cake

Published: Mar 9, 2023 by Natalie · This post may contain affiliate links · 10 Comments

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A two layer cake sliced into with some carrots next to it.

This mini carrot cake is moist, soft, and perfectly spiced. It’s generously frosted in a classic, luscious cream cheese frosting. This easy two layer 6-inch cake recipe is perfect for Easter and other small holiday and spring gatherings and celebrations.

If you’re looking for a mini carrot cake for two that comes together easily, this recipe is for you. This 6 inch carrot cake recipe makes a moist, soft, perfectly spiced cake. It is topped with classic cream cheese frosting.

I came up with this recipe so that you could make carrot cake whether it’s for a special occasion or not. It comes together easily and is the perfect mini size. This recipe is as delicious as my popular pumpkin carrot cake recipe!

If you’re looking for more cake and cupcake recipes, try my pumpkin olive oil cake and pumpkin carrot cake cupcakes.

Jump to:
  • Why You’ll Love This Recipe
  • Ingredient Notes
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Step by Step Instructions
  • Expert Baking Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • Storage
  • More Recipes You’ll Love
  • Mini Carrot Cake

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Warmly spiced taste and soft, moist texture that you love about carrot cake!
  • It only takes minutes to stir the batter together by hand. You don’t need any special equipment to make this cake. The cake bakes up in a quick 30 minutes.
  • You will love this classic cream cheese frosting. It is luscious and delicious!
  • This small carrot cake recipe makes a two-layer 6-inch carrot cake.
  • It is perfect for a small Easter celebration. You can also make it for just a couple of people anytime you’re craving carrot cake.
  • This cake is a great make-ahead dessert. It stays moist for days thanks to the shredded carrots, oil and applesauce in the batter.
A small layered carrot cake with frosting and chopped nuts on a wooden platter.

Ingredient Notes

Labeled ingredients needed to make mini carrot cake on a table.

Here are useful notes on some of the ingredients needed to make this recipe for mini carrot cake.

  • All purpose flour: I have only tested this cake with all purpose flour. Be sure not to dredge the measuring cup through the flour. Spoon the flour into the measuring cup to avoid using too much flour. I recommend weighing the flour using a kitchen scale for the most accurate measurement.
  • Oil: Use vegetable or canola oil. Oil makes this cake super moist. I prefer a flavorless oil for this recipe. This allows the flavor of the warm spices to be the focus.
  • Brown sugar: Use light or dark. Make sure to use fresh brown sugar.
  • 2 eggs: Use 2 large, room temperature eggs.
  • Spices: This recipe uses a combination of ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and pumpkin pie spice or allspice.
  • Carrots: You will need 1 1/2 cups of shredded carrots. That is about 2-3 medium carrots. Make sure to grate your whole, peeled carrots at home. I don’t recommend using store bought shredded carrots.
  • Applesauce: The cake batter uses applesauce to keep the cake extra moist. Make sure to use unsweetened applesauce.
  • Cream cheese: Leave it at room temperature for at least an hour before making the frosting. Use full fat block of cream cheese, not the kind in a tub.
  • Powdered sugar: I recommend sifting your powdered sugar. Sifting will make sure your frosting is smooth and free of lumps.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Substitutions and Variations

  • Instead of applesauce, use sour cream or buttermilk.
  • Add some pecans or walnuts to the batter or as a topping. Be sure to chop nuts finely before adding them to the batter.
  • Use orange and green gel food coloring to pipe carrots on your finished cake. Just mix a few spoonfuls of frosting with the colors and pipe mini carrots on the sides and top of the cake.
  • For thinner layers, divide the batter between three 6-inch cake pans. The layers will bake up faster since they are thinner. Be sure to start checking them for doneness sooner.

Step by Step Instructions

Here are the directions on how to make mini carrot cake.

A glass mixing bowl with spices, flour and a whisk.
A glass mixing bowl with eggs and other wet ingredients and a whisk.

Step 1: Whisk to combine the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt).

Step 2: Mix together the wet ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the sugars and eggs. Stir in the vanilla and applesauce followed by the oil.

Carrot cake batter in a mixing bowl and a bowl of grated carrots.
Two six inch round pans with carrot cake batter.

Step 3: Combine the wet and dry ingredients. Stir with a spatula until just combined.

Step 4: Bake at 350 Fahrenheit for 31-35 minutes.

Two six inch carrot cakes on a cooling rack.
Cream cheese frosting in a white bowl with a mixer.

Step 5: Cool cakes completely. Place the cake pans on a rack. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans. Turn them out when cool.

Step 6: Make the cream cheese frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer til smooth. With the mixer on low, add the vanilla, salt and powdered sugar. Beat 30 seconds then turn mixer up to high for an additional 1-2 minutes.

A layer of cake with cream cheese frosting on a cake turntable.
A two layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting sliced open.

Step 7: Frost the cake. Top the first layer with 1/2 cup frosting. Place top layer bottom side up. Use a spoon or offset spatula to frost. Frost the sides. Top with chopped nuts, if desired.

Step 8: Slice and enjoy. Cake can be sliced across the diameter then vertically or cut into traditional wedges.

Hint: Add more powdered sugar to the frosting til it’s the thickness you desire.

Expert Baking Tips

  1. Spoon the flour into your measuring cup. If you dredge the measuring cup into the flour, the flour will become compact. This can lead to a dry cake.
  2. Use fresh spices. Spices are the star of this miniature carrot cake. Make sure your ground spices are fresh.
  3. Grate the carrots. Avoid using store bought carrots. To grate your carrots, first rinse then peel them. Grate carrots using a box grater or food processor. The carrots should be small and light, not large and chunky.
  4. Use block-style, room temperature cream cheese. To get creamy frosting, make sure to use room temperature cream cheese.
  5. Sift the powdered sugar. We don’t want lumps in the frosting. Sift the powdered sugar before adding it to the creamed butter and cream sugar.

Recipe FAQs

Can carrot cake be made with butter?

Yes, but I recommend oil. Carrot cakes can be made with butter, but most carrot cakes use oil instead of butter. Oil makes the cake moist and helps it stay moist for days.

What’s carrot cake taste like?

Carrot cake tastes like warm spices. Carrots have a mild flavor and most recipes use a neutral oil. Cream cheese frosting is creamy and luscious, but it doesn’t have a strong flavor. This allows the flavor of the spices to stand out.

Can carrot cake be left out?

It’s best to store carrot cake in the refrigerator. It can be left out for a couple of hours while serving. Cream cheese frosting spoils quickly and is best refrigerated.

A piece of carrot cake on a plate with a spoon next to some carrots.

Storage

Refrigerator

Store this carrot cake mini in an airtight container such as a cake carrier in the refrigerator for 4 days.

Freezer

Carrot cake can be frozen. Tightly wrap the cooled, unfrosted cake in plastic wrap. Freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw cake in the refrigerator for about 24 hours before frosting and serving.

More Recipes You’ll Love

  • Carrot cake cupcakes with frosting swirled on top.
    Pumpkin Carrot Cake Cupcakes
  • Lemon Rosemary Olive Oil Cake
  • Raspberry Ricotta Cake
  • A mini chocolate cake topped with ganache piped on top.
    Mini Chocolate Cake

Mini Carrot Cake

Natalie
This mini carrot cake is moist, soft, and perfectly spiced. It's generously frosted in a classic, luscious cream cheese frosting. This easy two layer 6-inch cake recipe is perfect for Easter and other small gatherings and spring celebrations.
5 from 4 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 8 people
Calories 549 kcal

Ingredients
  

Carrot Cake

  • ¾ cup brown sugar light or dark, packed
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup oil canola or vegetable
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • ⅓ cup unsweetened applesauce or buttermilk or sour cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1⅓ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice or pumpkin pie spice
  • 1½ cups grated carrots about 2- 3 medium carrots, 150 grams

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
  • 1¼ cups powdered sugar sifted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch salt

Instructions
 

Mini Carrot Cake

  • Spray sides and bottoms of two 6 inch cake pans baking spray. and line pans with a round of parchment paper Spray parchment paper with baking spray. Preheat oven to 350 F. 
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk to combine the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice or pumpkin pie spice. Set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, eggs, sugars, applesauce or sour cream, and vanilla until no lumps of brown sugar remain.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold the wet ingredients in with a spatula until just combined. Stir in the carrots until just combined.
  • Divide batter evenly into the prepared pans. Bake for 30-34 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of the cake.
  • Keep the cakes in their pans. Place pans on a wire rack. Allow cakes to cool completely in their pans on the racks.

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of an electric mixer, cream the room temperature butter and room temperature cream cheese on medium speed until smooth.
  • Add the vanilla extract, salt and powdered sugar. Turn the mixer on low for 30 seconds. Turn mixer up to high speed and beat 2 minutes until creamy. Add extra powdered sugar, if you'd like the frosting thicker.

Assembling the Cake

  • Once the cakes have cooled, use a serrated knife or a cake leveler to level off the domes on the tops of the cakes to create even layers.
  • Place one cake layer on a cake turntable or cake stand. Spoon a dollop of about ½ cup of frosting on the top layer. Spread evenly with an offset spatula. Place the top layer bottom side up on top. Spread the rest of the frosting on top and on the sides. Decorate with chopped nuts, if desired. Place the cake in the refrigerator for 15-30 minutes to allow frosting to set before slicing.
  • Cake can be sliced across the diameter then vertically or cut into traditional wedges.

Notes

Carrots: Make sure to grate your whole, peeled carrots at home. I don’t recommend using store bought shredded carrots
Applesauce: The cake batter uses applesauce to keep the cake extra moist. Make sure to use unsweetened applesauce. Sour cream or buttermilk can be used in place of applesauce. 
Cake pans: This recipe can be made in two or three 6-inch cake pans. If using three cake pans, bake for less time. Insert a toothpick in the center of a cake to check for doneness. If it comes out clean, the cakes are finished baking. Place pans on a wire rack and allow cakes to cool in the pans. Make sure cakes have cooled completely before frosting. 
Powdered sugar: Sift the powdered sugar to remove any lumps. 
Cream cheese: Leave it at room temperature for at least an hour before making the frosting. Use full fat block of cream cheese, not the kind in a tub.
Piping the frosting: I prefer my carrot cakes on the simple, rustic side. If you want to pipe the frosting on top, chill it in the fridge for at least 20 minutes. You may also need to add extra powdered sugar to help get it to a  pipeable thickness that will keep its shape.
Storage: Store the cake in an airtight container such as a cake carrier in the refrigerator for 4 days. To freeze, tightly wrap the cooled, unfrosted cake in plastic wrap. Freeze it for up to 3 months. Thaw cake in the refrigerator for about 24 hours before frosting and serving.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 549kcalCarbohydrates: 65gProtein: 5gFat: 31gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 307mgPotassium: 118mgFiber: 1gSugar: 47gVitamin A: 620IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 90mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Let us know!Let us know how it was!
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Comments

  1. Patsy

    April 19, 2023 at 5:38 am

    Hi ! I made the mini carrot cake and used a 9inch tin, very happy with the taste, just a little disappointed it didn’t rise a bit more . Maybe I stirred it too much? But flavour was great.

    Reply
    • Natalie

      April 25, 2023 at 3:48 pm

      Hi Patsy, Thanks so much for making this recipe! I’m sorry the cake didn’t rise more, but happy you enjoyed the flavor. Thanks for your feedback.

      Reply
  2. kimberly rorick

    April 14, 2023 at 11:54 am

    5 stars
    This cake was perfect! This was the lightest, most delicious carrot cake I have EVER made. Most carrot cakes are heavy, but not this one! Natalie provides easy to follow instructions! I threw out my other carrot cake recipes and replaced it with this one!

    Reply
    • Natalie

      April 17, 2023 at 8:58 pm

      Hi Kim! Thanks so much for the 5 star review! I’m so happy you enjoyed this cake and honored it’ll be your go to carrot cake recipe! XO

      Reply
  3. Christine Joseph

    March 20, 2023 at 12:06 pm

    5 stars
    Delicious and easy to follow recipe!

    Reply
    • Natalie

      March 20, 2023 at 8:36 pm

      That is what I love to hear! Thanks so much for making this Christine! Have a great week 🙂

      Reply
  4. AG

    March 15, 2023 at 5:23 pm

    I’m confused, does this recipe call for pumpkin purée or no? I thought I saw it in the text at the beginning and maybe towards the end, but don’t see it on the list of ingredients or instructions?

    Reply
    • Natalie

      March 15, 2023 at 9:22 pm

      Hi there, so sorry for the confusion! No-this recipe does not call for pumpkin puree. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

      Reply
  5. Allie Piscopo

    March 15, 2023 at 11:05 am

    5 stars
    This was so delicious and easy to make!! Definitely my new go to for carrot cake ☺️

    Reply
    • Natalie

      March 15, 2023 at 9:20 pm

      Thank you so much for this comment Allie!! I’m so happy you enjoyed this mini carrot cake and love to hear it’s your new go to recipe!:)

      Reply

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I’m Natalie, the baker and photographer here at Parsley and Icing! Here you will find a collection of delicious and decadent dessert recipes made with fresh, from scratch ingredients! More About Natalie and Parsley and Icing

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