Old Fashioned Carrot Cake with Pineapple

Savor the delightful blend of flavors in this Old Fashioned Carrot Cake with Pineapple. A divine creation that blends the moistness of the carrots, the sweetness of the pineapple, and the crunch of the pecans. This cake is crowned with an irresistible cream cheese frosting and is not only the ultimate treat but ideal for any celebration. This is the best-ever carrot cake that is requested for all of our family get-togethers, and there is never a piece left.

This is a favorite cake with my family and is requested often. I also have family members request a whole cake for their birthdays and seriously don’t want to share it with their entire family. I have made this cake for birthdays, holidays, and even weddings.

In my opinion, this is seriously The Best Ever Carrot Cake. This Carrot Cake is DELICIOUS! It is made with fresh carrots and has the most delicious cream cheese frosting. Once you try it, you will want to bake it for EVERY holiday, birthday, and get together.

I have a big family. There are 30 of us when we all gather together, and we try our best to get together for every holiday and every chance between holidays. So, with that being said, you better get in line for this cake–fast. Usually, there is not a piece of cake left! Sometimes, I am so full from eating a big meal that I must hide my piece of cake for later.

This cake is easy to make and super moist. The crushed pineapple and the freshly grated carrots are responsible for the moisture in this cake.

 

Why This Recipe Is Fabulous

This moist pineapple carrot cake recipe stands out for several reasons, with its moist flavor and rich texture making this a delightful treat that caters to all carrot cake lovers. So whether you’re celebrating a holiday or celebration or just because you love carrot cake, this recipe is a stand-out choice for all to enjoy.

Moist Cake: The carrots and pineapple provide moisture and ensure a soft and tender bite. The combination of ingredients offers delightful flavors with textural elements.

Nutty Texture: The pecans add texture to the cake and the frosting.

Ease of Preparation: The recipe is straightforward and makes this perfect for beginner and seasoned bakers. The simple ingredients and steps involved will contribute to your success.

Time: The batter comes together quickly, and this cake can be made beforehand.

Ingredients for Carrot Cake with Pineapple

For this homemade carrot cake recipe, you will need simple ingredients to create a deliciously moist and flavorful cake. The ingredients can be found in your local grocery store. Please see the printable recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and amounts.

The pineapple and other ingredients will work together to make this cake so moist and delicious and yield an amazing flavor.
I have made this cake many times and always get asked to bring this cake to family gatherings and birthday parties. This cake always shows up at holiday events. This recipe is so easy to follow and turns out perfectly every time.

Creamy Frosting Ingredients

• Cream Cheese– Provides the base of the creamy frosting and offers a perfect balance of sweetness.
• Butter– Butter adds richness and contributes to the frosting’s creamy texture. Start with room-temperature butter.
• Confectioners Sugar– This is also called powdered sugar. It sweetens the frosting and adds to the consistency.
• Vanilla – Vanilla Extract 
• Pecans– Pecans add a crunchy texture and nut flavor.

Looking for more delicious desserts? Try this NO-Bake Pumpkin Pie. It’s fast, easy, and so delicious!

Why I Should Use Fresh Carrots

Buying pre-grated carrots will save time and effort, but fresh carrots will make a difference in the taste and texture.  Pre-shredded carrots tend to be a little dry, and it only takes a few extra minutes to grate fresh carrots, especially if you have some sort of food grater. But, if you don’t have a food grater —no problem— do it by hand. Look at it this way–you will be getting in a pre-workout and burning a few calories “before” you indulge in this delicious cake!

Baking The Cake

This moist carrot cake recipe makes 3 cake layers. For a complete list of detailed instructions, see the printable recipe card below.

1. Prepare cake pans.
2. Sift all dry ingredients.
3. Add sugar, oil, and eggs to the large bowl of your electric mixer/ stand mixer.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, then add carrots, pineapple, and nuts.
5. Pour the cake batter evenly into the prepared pans and bake. 
6. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Why This Cream Cheese Frosting Is The Best 

The homemade cream cheese frosting is incredible and paired with the carrot cake, which is the ultimate compliment. Its silky texture goes perfectly with the sweet notes of the cake, creating a nice and balanced profile. This creamy frosting is enough for a 3-layer cake with thick frosting between all of the layers and on top.

When Is My Cake Done

Insert a toothpick into the center of the cake, and if it comes out clean, it’s done. All ovens vary in cooking time and temperature, so start checking on your cake at the 25-minute mark and continue to check until it is done.

Recipe Tips and Variations for The Best Carrot Cake

Recipe Tips:

Please consider these recipe tips and variations to make the best pineapple carrot cake. As always, these are just suggestions and allow you room to customize it to your liking, making it a delightful treat for any occasion.

Preheat oven – Preheat the oven while you prepare the pans and mix the cake batter.

Toasting pecans -This is optional. I usually don’t toast mine because the cake already has a lot of flavor, but it can add extra flavor to the frosting.

Pineapple – Use the pineapple and the juice for the cake batter.

Frosting – Start with room temperature ingredients, beat on low speed when adding the powdered sugar, then increase to medium speed until you get the desired consistency.

Recipe Variations:

Here are a few variations for this old fashioned carrot cake recipe. 

Pineapple Carrot Cake Cupcakes: – Convert the recipe into cupcakes and adjust the baking time accordingly.

Add Raisins: Raisins will add extra sweetness and texture. Mix them into the cake batter.

Sheet Cake: Bake as a sheet cake instead of a layered cake.

Nut Swap: Feel free to swap out the pecans for walnuts.

 

Can I Make This Cake Ahead Of Time

Yes, you can make this cake ahead of time. I like to make this cake a day before the event and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You may also wrap it in plastic wrap, but the wrap may stick some to the cake.

You can also make and freeze the layers for up to 2 months. Then, remove the layers from the freezer and frost them when you are ready for the cake.

How To Store Carrot Cake

My favorite place to store my cake is in the refrigerator. Yes, I like my cake cold. The cream cheese frosting will get soft if it is not refrigerated and if your house is warm.

When transporting the cake, I usually store my cake in a cake carrier. This makes removing from the refrigerator and going to my destination easier. If I am making this cake for an event at home, I usually wrap the cake in plastic wrap and sometimes add foil to the top to ensure an airtight wrap for added freshness. You can certainly slice the cake when the event is over and store it in an airtight container. I prefer to enjoy a slice the next day for breakfast.

To freeze Carrot Cake: Slice into individual slices and wrap tightly in plastic wrap. Place all of the slices into a zip-top bag and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months.

If it lasts that long, this cake will keep well in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Mine never does!

I hope you and your family will enjoy this cake as much as my family and friends. Maybe this cake will be requested at your next holiday gathering. Enjoy!!!

Recipe FAQs

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