Popular Southern Choice for Easter Sweet Treats
Irresistible Southern Carrot Cakes
Easter desserts are usually all about ham, lamb, or deviled eggs, but let's not forget the sweet finish! While classics like Bunny Cakes or Coconut Cakes are popular, it's the Good Old South that's searching for something more. It turns out, our Best Carrot Cake Recipe is the Southern favorite they've been seeking! This cake is not your average carrot cake—it's deliciously springy and tangy, with a cream cheese frosting that'll make your taste buds dance.
What Sets Our Carrot Cake Apart
Several things make this carrot cake stand out. First off, we use crushed pineapple in the batter, much like our beloved Hummingbird Cake. It adds moisture and keeps the cake delightfully tender without overpowering the pineapple flavor. Next, we opt for flaked coconut over traditionally used raisins for texture and added sweetness.
One technique that truly makes this cake extraordinary is the Buttermilk Glaze. Cooked sugar and buttermilk syrup pour over the warm carrot layers, soaking in and making the cake unbelievably moist and tender. This extra effort is well worth it!
Best Carrot Cake Recipe
Here's how to make our Southern-style Best Carrot Cake:
Ingredients:- 2 cups grated carrots- 1 cup crushed pineapple- 1 cup flaked coconut- 2 cups all-purpose flour- 1 teaspoon baking powder- 1 teaspoon baking soda- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon- 1/2 teaspoon salt- 1 cup vegetable oil- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar- 1 cup packed brown sugar- 4 eggs- 1 cup buttermilk- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Buttermilk Glaze:- 1 cup granulated sugar- 1/2 cup buttermilk
Cream Cheese Frosting:- 16 oz cream cheese, softened- 3/4 cup butter, softened- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
Instructions:1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.2. In a large mixing bowl, mix the wet ingredients: eggs, oil, sugar, brown sugar, buttermilk, and vanilla extract.3. In a separate bowl, sift together the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.4. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until combined.5. Fold in the carrots, crushed pineapple, and coconut.6. Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake for 30-35 minutes.7. While the cakes are baking, prepare the Buttermilk Glaze. In a small saucepan, combine the sugar and buttermilk and cook over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.8. As soon as the cakes come out of the oven, poke holes all over them and drizzle the warm Buttermilk Glaze evenly over each layer. Allow the cakes to cool completely.9. To make the Cream Cheese Frosting, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla extract, and powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until smooth and creamy.10. Frost the cooled cakes and enjoy!
Why This Carrot Cake is a Southern Favorite
Millie Toups says it best: "This is the BEST carrot cake recipe EVER!" Our recipe is flexible, with readers adding their own twists like raisins, candied pecans, extra spices, and even turning it into a sheet cake. One reviewer shared a heartwarming story of finding the recipe while serving in Germany and remembering a dear friend. Hold onto this recipe—it's a keeper!
- Southern Living has shared Easter dessert recipes, including their Best Carrot Cake Recipe, which has become a favorite among Southerners during holidays and occasions.
- This carrot cake is not your average dessert; it's tangy, springy, and features a cream cheese frosting that'll dance on your taste buds.
- To make this cake stand out, pineapple is used in the batter instead of raisins, and flaked coconut adds texture and sweetness. There's also a Buttermilk Glaze that makes the cake incredibly moist and tender.
- The Best Carrot Cake Recipe from Southern Living has been highly praised, with one fan thanking the magazine for keeping the recipe after finding it while serving in Germany.
- When it comes to modifying the recipe, many readers have added their twists, such as raisins, candied pecans, extra spices, or even turning it into a sheet cake.
- Hummingbird Cake, which also includes crushed pineapple, is a beloved Southern Living recipe, and this Best Carrot Cake Recipe bears a similarity to it.
