This Carrot Cake Loaf is an easy and tasty recipe with simple ingredients. Full of flavor from the spices and topped off with a cream cheese frosting, this is the perfect treat to bake up anytime!
Preheat the oven to 350F degrees. Spray a loaf pan (9x5-inch) with a nonstick baking spray (I like the kind with flour in it).
In a large bowl, beat together 2 large eggs, room temperature with a handheld mixer until smooth. Mix in ¾ cup butter, melted, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
In a separate mixing bowl combine 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ teaspoon ground ginger, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon nutmeg.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients then mix on low until everything is combined.
Gently stir in 1 ½ cups grated carrots and ½ cup chopped walnuts to the batter.
Pour and spread into prepared baking pan. Top with more nuts as desired. Make a small cut lengthwise about ½ inch deep in the center of the bread.
Bake for 50-55 minutes until the toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few breadcrumbs.
Let the bread cool for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, make frosting. Beat 8 ounces (1 block) cream cheese, softened to room temperature with an electric mixer until creamy and add ¼ cup (1/2 stick) salted butter, softened to room temperature . Mix on low until combined.
Gradually stir in 2 cups powdered sugar.
Spread frosting on cooled cake and top with more chopped walnuts, if desired.
Notes
Note: to make the loaf easier to remove, you can also line the baking pan with parchment paper.
Use a box grater to shred carrots.
The cream cheese frosting is optional. You can also dust with powdered sugar; use a powdered sugar glaze or leave plain.
If your bread is browning too fast, tent it with foil.
Make sure the loaf is fully cooled before frosting.
This can be frozen, see above on how to do that.
You can swap out the walnuts for pecans or omit nuts altogether.