I’ve realised that I have more than 50 Loaf Cake recipes that I have not shared on here. Loaf Cakes are our go-to when we want a cake that all the family can dig into whether its with a brew at the end of the day or a lazy snack for the girls. I’ll be sharing more of our Loaf Cake ideas over the next few months (Let’s face it, I could share one a week for the next year and still have more to share!) but today it is the turn of the Family Carrot Loaf Cake.

Jump to Recipe

Whole Carrot Loaf Cake with mini marzipan carrots

Family Carrot Loaf Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Mini Marzipan carrots

Not all Loaf Cakes need decoration – Its what makes them so quick and easy. In fact one of my most popular Loaf Cakes, the Jamaican Ginger Loaf Cake has no toppings whatsoever. This Family Carrot Loaf Cake is made even more special with the Cream Cheese Frosting on the top. For special occasions, I even add the Mini Marzipan Carrots!

The beauty of the Family Carrot Loaf Cake is that each bite can be different. You can decide how finely you like to grate your carrots and how small to chop your walnuts. We love texture in our cakes so go chunky in both carrots and nuts.

Family Carrot Loaf Cake with Tangy Cream Cheese Frosting or Buttercream

This cake freezes well without the frosting – Most Loaf Cakes do. Defrost at room temperature for around 6 hours or overnight. Once the cake is cooked, leave to cool completely before decorating or freezing. I always use paper loaf cake cases – Life really is too short to be lining loaf tins.

If you are not a raisin fan, just leave out and replace with extra nuts. Pecan nuts also make a great alternative to walnuts. If you don’t fancy tangy cream cheese frosting, then every day vanilla frosting or buttercream is fine too – Just remember that it will make for a very sweet cake.

Slices Family Carrot Loaf Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting decoration

Slice of Family Carrot Loaf Cake with Mini Edible Marzipan Carrot decorations

Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

The recipe that I use for Cream Cheese Frosting is below – PLEASE NOTE, you will only need about HALF of this recipe for the top of your loaf cake. I include the full recipe as it uses a full box of 500g icing sugar and is so much easier to remember than weighing it out.

170g Cold Butter (Never margarine)
50g Full Fat Cream Cheese (I tend to use branded Philadelphia as I can never guarantee the quality of shop’s own brand)
500g Icing Sugar
1 Tbsp Double Cream
1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Using an electric whisk, Mix together the butter and Cream Cheese then add the icing sugar. Add the double cream and vanilla. Keep in the fridge for 30 minutes before using – can be piped but will go quite solid if left overnight in the fridge.

Full carrot loaf cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Family Carrot Loaf Cake

Nutty and fruity Family Carrot Loaf Cake with optional tangy Cream Cheese Frosting and Mini marzipan Carrots

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20

Cook Time 45

Course Dessert, Snack

Servings

Ingredients

125 Grams Caster Sugar
115 ml Sunflower oil
2 Medium Eggs
4 Large Carrots Peeled and grated
125 Grams Self Raising Flour
2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Mixed Spice
100 Grams Desiccated Coconut
75 Grams Chopped Walnuts
50 Grams Raisins

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 170C and line a 2lb (900g) Loaf Tin
Place the sugar and oil into a mixer, and mix until combined.Add the eggs and continue to mix slowly
Fold in the flour and spices until just combined
Add in the carrots, nuts, raisin and coconut
Pour into the loaf tin and bake for approx 45-55 minutes, until a skewer comes out clear
Leave to cool completely in the tin. Decorate with Cream Cheese Frosting and mini marzipan carrots