Carrot Snack Cake
Submitted by Gwenevere
Carrot snack cake made with cake mix, grated carrots, orange juice, cinnamon, and chopped nuts, topped with a homemade cream cheese frosting. Easy one-pan baking.
YIELD
1 cakePREP
15 minCOOK
45 minREADY
60 minThis carrot cake takes a serious shortcut with cake mix, but the additions of grated carrots, orange juice, cinnamon, and chopped nuts make it taste like you started from scratch. Everything gets stirred together in one bowl with a fork, poured into a square pan, and baked. No mixer needed.
Orange juice replaces most of the liquid in the cake mix and adds a citrusy brightness that pairs naturally with the carrots and cinnamon. It’s a small swap that makes a big flavor difference over using plain water.
The cream cheese frosting is made from scratch even though the cake isn’t. Softened butter and cream cheese whipped with powdered sugar and vanilla creates the tangy, sweet topping that every carrot cake deserves.
Kitchen Tips
- Grate the carrots finely so they blend into the batter and soften completely during baking. Coarse shreds stay crunchy.
- Cool the cake completely before frosting. Warm cake melts the cream cheese frosting into a runny mess.
- Test with a toothpick at 35 minutes. Square pans vary in size and the timing range is wide.
Variations
- Add a handful of raisins or dried cranberries with the nuts for fruity bites.
- Fold in shredded coconut for a more tropical carrot cake.
- Use pecans or walnuts specifically for the chopped nuts.
Ingredients
Directions
Preheat oven to 350℉ (180℃).
Pour Cake Mix into an ungreased 8 or 9 inch square baking pan.
In a medium bowl, combine egg, oil, carrots, orange juice and cinnamon, beating with a fork to blend.
Stir into Cake Mix until blended.
Stir in nuts.
Bake 35 to 45 minutes until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
Prepare frosting; set aside.
Cool cake on a rack.
Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake.
Cream Cheese Frosting: 3 Tablespoons butter or margarine, softened 1 to 3 ounce package cream cheese, softened 1 ⅔ cups powdered sugar, sifted ½ teaspoon vanilla extract In a small bowl, cream butter or margarine and cream cheese until light and fluffy.
Beat in Powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth.
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