Description
Ultra-moist Salted Caramel Carrot Dream Cake layered with silky cream cheese frosting, buttery homemade caramel sauce, warm spices, and crunchy pecans for the ultimate bakery-style dessert.
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake:
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 large eggs
1 cup vegetable oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
2 cups freshly grated carrots
1/2 cup chopped pecans
For the Cream Cheese Filling:
8 oz cream cheese softened
1/2 cup butter softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
For the Salted Caramel Sauce:
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup heavy cream warmed
3 tbsp butter
1 tsp sea salt flakes
Optional Garnish:
Extra pecans
Sea salt flakes
Caramel drizzle
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease and line two 8-inch cake pans.
3. In a large bowl whisk flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt together.
4. In another bowl beat brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
5. Fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients until combined.
6. Stir in grated carrots and chopped pecans gently.
7. Divide batter evenly between prepared cake pans.
8. Bake for 30–35 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Allow cake layers to cool completely.
10. Beat cream cheese and butter until creamy and fluffy.
11. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until smooth frosting forms.
12. Prepare caramel by heating sugar and water in saucepan until amber colored.
13. Slowly whisk in warm heavy cream carefully.
14. Add butter and sea salt flakes and stir until smooth.
15. Cool caramel slightly before assembling cake.
16. Spread cream cheese filling between cake layers.
17. Frost top and sides lightly if desired.
18. Pour salted caramel sauce over top of cake.
19. Garnish with pecans and extra sea salt flakes before serving.
Notes
Use freshly grated carrots for the softest texture and best moisture.
Allow caramel sauce to cool slightly before pouring over cake.
Chill cake for cleaner slices.
Cake tastes even better the next day after flavors settle.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 42g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 31g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 57g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 5g
- Cholesterol: 85mg