Carrot Bundt Cake

Name: Carrot Bundt Cake
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 15.25 ounce spice cake mix; 4 large eggs ((room temperature)); ½ cup canola oil; ½ cup sour cream; 1 Tablespoon fresh orange zest; 2 cups finely shredded carrots ((use fresh carrots, not pre-shredded)); 8 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained well; ¾ cup chopped walnuts; 6 ounces cream cheese, room temperature ((this will be a little over 3/4's of a block of cream cheese)); 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (room temperature); 1 ½ cups powdered sugar ((also called confectioners sugar)); 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon kosher salt; 1-3 Tablespoons whole milk; ¼ - ½ cup chopped walnuts ((for topping, optional))

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An easy, moist and delicious Carrot Bundt Cake, perfect for any occasion, with a rich and flavorful blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cream cheese frosting!

A CLASSIC CARROT CAKE TRANSFORMED

A perfect combination of carrots, warm spices from the spice cake mix, citrusy orange zest, crunchy nuts and the sweetness of crushed pineapples make this version of a classic carrot cake simply irresistible. Enjoy a slice of this carrot cake with a cup of tea or coffee for an afternoon snack or as an Easter dessert! And, since this is a dressed-up box cake mix recipe, you know it’s going to turn out SUPER moist yet will totally taste like it’s homemade!

A few slices of Carrot Bundt Cake with glaze and chopped nuts on a serving plate.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What kind of spice cake mix should I use?

I used a Betty Crocker Super Moist Spice Cake Mix when I made this recipe. You can use a different one if you prefer. Or use your favorite homemade spice cake recipe.

Can I use a different cake mix?

Sure! If you don’t have spice cake mix, I imagine you could use a yellow cake mix or vanilla. In order to add more flavor that you would expect from a carrot cake, try adding two teaspoons of cinnamon and a pinch of ginger when preparing the batter.

Can I use preshredded carrots?

While I usually like using shortcuts to make things simpler in the kitchen (hello, spice cake mix), I actually don’t recommend using the pre-shredded carrots in a bag. You need the moisture from the fresh shredded carrots to help the cake stay moist. The prepackaged ones are too dry.

How do I drain the pineapples?

Don’t just press the lid into the can, you want some moisture to stay with the pineapple chunks. Instead, empty the can of pineapple into a colander and let the pineapple sit for a few minutes to drain off excess liquid.
The pineapple really sets this carrot bundt cake with pineapple up to a whole new level.

Can I use low fat cream cheese and sour cream?

I don’t recommend using the low or light versions of these. I think the full fat sour cream and the full fat cream cheese provide the best texture as well as incredible moistness and flavor for both cake and the frosting.

Can I add more spices?

Yes! If you like more spice flavor in your typical carrot cake recipes, try adding ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg to the cake batter for even more flavor.

Help! My bundt cakes always stick to the pan, what do I do?

Don’t worry! Personally, I find that using a baking nonstick spray that has flour in it, like Baker’s Joy or Pam for Baking are all you need to help your bundt cake pop out when finished baking. (non affiliated links) They work beautifully but you gotta get the kind with flour in it.
Additionally, you could grease the pan with Crisco shortening and then flour it, but I find that the non stick spray with flour works like a charm and is quicker and easier.

Can this bundt cake sit out on the counter?

No, since this cake uses cream cheese in the frosting, you need to refrigerate it when you aren’t eating it. At most, the carrot cake can sit out for about 2 hours.

How to store leftover Carrot Bundt Cake?

Store leftover cake either covered tightly or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

How do I know when my Carrot Bundt dessert is done?

Knowing when this cake is done may depend on what kind of baking pan you use. The bake time will vary based on the finish of your bundt pan. If you use a dark-colored pan, your bake time will be closer to 40 minutes. If using a lighter pan, your bake time will be closer to 50 minutes.

A slice of Carrot Cake Bundt Cake being on a serving utensil.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)

spice cake mix
large eggs
canola oil
sour cream
orange zest
carrots
crush pineapple
cream cheese
unsalted butter
powdered sugar
vanilla extract
kosher salt
whole milk
chopped walnuts

Spice cake mix, shredded carrots,eggs, canola oil, sour cream, cream cheese, orange zest, pineapple, walnuts, unsalted butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, kosher salt, and whole milk.

HOW TO MAKE A CARROT BUNDT CAKE:

Preheat the oven to 325F degrees. Spray a 10-cup bundt pan with nonstick cooking spray that has flour in it (like Baker’s Joy) and set aside. If you don’t have Baker’s Joy, just grease and flour the bundt pan. Combine the cake mix, eggs, oil, sour cream, and orange zest in a large mixing bowl and whisk until well combined (this can also be done in a stand mixer or with a handheld electric mixer).

Cake mix, eggs, oil, sour cream, and orange zest in a large mixing bowl.

Gently stir in the carrots, pineapple, and walnuts.

Carrots, pineapple, and walnuts on top of cake batter.

Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake on the middle rack in the oven for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with no raw batter.

Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to finish cooling. Once it’s done cooling, you can turn it out onto a cake platter. Once the cake has cooled completely, prepare the glaze. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter with a hand or stand mixer until smooth.

Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, salt, and one tablespoon of milk and beat until smooth. Add more milk, one teaspoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached. The glaze should only hold its shape for a few seconds when a spoon is dragged through it.

Pour the glaze over the cake and let it drip down the sides.

Sprinkle the crushed walnut over the top while the glaze is still wet.

A homemade Carrot Bundt Cake with glaze on a serving plate.

Allow the glaze to set before slicing and serving.

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