How to Make Carrot Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting - A Step-by-Step Guide

Carrot cake is a classic dessert that is loved by many for its rich, moist texture, and subtle sweetness. This recipe for Carrot Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting takes the traditional carrot cake to the next level with the addition of crushed pineapple and a luscious cream cheese frosting.

The combination of carrots and pineapple in this cake not only adds a delicious sweetness, but also makes for an incredibly moist and tender crumb. The flavors of the carrots and pineapple...

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Ingredients

  • cooking spray
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 ½ cups white sugar
  • ¾ cup buttermilk
  • ¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 ½ cups grated carrots
  • 1 ½ cups chopped pecans
  • 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained and juice reserved
  • 1 (8 ounce) package Neufchatel cheese, softened
  • 1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice
  • 1 (16 ounce) package confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch salt

Information

  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 45 mins
  • Additional Time: 9 hrs
  • Total Time: 10 hrs 5 mins
  • Servings: 16
  • Yield: 16 servings

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  • Sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt together in a bowl. Lightly beat eggs in a bowl; add white sugar, buttermilk, applesauce, oil, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract and mix well. Stir buttermilk mixture, carrots, pecans, and drained pineapple into flour mixture just until mixed; pour into prepared dish.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Cool cake in baking dish on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Cover dish tightly with plastic wrap; refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.
  • Beat Neufchatel cheese and 1 tablespoon reserved pineapple juice together in a bowl with an electric mixer until smooth; add confectioners' sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 pinch salt and beat until frosting is smooth. Spread frosting on cake.
  • Nutrition

    398 cal.

    • Total Fat: 13g
    • Saturated Fat: 3g
    • Cholesterol: 34mg
    • Sodium: 329mg
    • Total Carbohydrate: 67g
    • Dietary Fiber: 2g
    • Total Sugars: 52g
    • Protein: 5g
    • Vitamin C: 3mg
    • Calcium: 48mg
    • Iron: 1mg
    • Potassium: 186mg