This Moist Coconut Carrot Cake, filled with banana and figs, is perfectly spiced and topped with a luscious honey ricotta cream cheese frosting. A twist on the old fashioned carrot cake recipe with a lovely blend of fresh carrots, coconut, and banana.
*This Recipe is Sponsored by Watkins. All thoughts and text are my own. Thank you for supporting the companies that help make Two Cups Flour possible.
Carrot Cake is usually seen predominantly in the Spring, but I say there shouldn’t be any seasonal rules when it comes to enjoying cake!
Most traditional carrot cake recipes are made with a mixture of nuts, pineapple, and raisins in the batter. I’ve actually never preferred this combination even though I love the base flavor. So, of course I had to put my own spin on the filling.
My rendition of carrot cake is super moist with hints of banana, dried figs, and shredded coconut! Staying true to a creamy topping, I made a softer version of cake frosting with cream cheese, ricotta cheese, honey, and a little vanilla. The not too sweet icing adds just enough lightness to the warmer spices. Once you make this homemade carrot cake you’ll be baking it for every occasion.
Carrot Cake Spices
All the cozy flavor from the perfect blend of spices is what creates that nostalgic homemade Carrot Cake taste. I partnered with Watkins to share with you my Moist Carrot Cake Recipe inspired by all my fond memories of eating spiced cake with vanilla frosting during family holidays.
All Watkins products are free from artificial dyes, high-fructose corn syrup, added MSG and other artificial ingredients. Which means I can always feel comfortable knowing only quality spices are going into my cakes.
I love lots of flavor in my carrot coconut cake so there is plenty of ground cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. All three create a lovely blend without being over powering.
Ingredients
- Coconut Oil has a soft flavor that doesn’t over power the spices.
- Brown Sugar helps to sweetens, adds moisture, and gives a richer flavor.
- Mashed Bananas pairs so nicely with carrots and coconut, and replaces part of the oil in the recipe.
- Freshly Grated Carrots add additional moisture and bold carrot flavor, that packaged grated carrots do nit.
- Dried Figs are more fun than raisins.
- Sweetened Shredded Coconut for a tropical flavor profile.
Ricotta Cream Cheese Frosting
Layering the cake with a silky whipped ricotta cream cheese frosting, lightly enhance with vanilla and honey creates a perfect balance with the hearty carrot cake. I’ve added frosting between the cake layers and on the top for a lovely contrast.
Tips for Homemade Carrot Cake
- Weighing your flour with a kitchen scale. Too much flour and the cake won’t have the right texture.
- Keep the sugar ratios the same. Having more brown sugar than granulated sugar is what creates extra moisture.
- Prep your cake pans with nonstick spray and line the bottom with parchment paper.
- Weigh the cake pans once you’ve added the batter, to ensure you’ve divided them into two equal layers.
- Bake cake layers on middle oven rack.
- Don’t open the oven door until close to the final baking time to prevent layers from sinking.
- Check cake layers for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center. If it comes out mostly clean with a few crumbs remove pans from the oven.
- Allow cake layers to completely cool in the pans on wire rack before inverting and removing.
How to Store Carrot Cake
Carrot cake is best stored in the refrigerator using an air tight container or wrapped in aluminum foil to prevent drying out. A moist cake will stay fresh up to one week when properly stored in the fridge.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you would like to freeze your carrot cake, don’t add the icing. Simply wrap the layers twice in plastic wrap then slide into a freezer safe plastic bag. Frozen cake will stay fresh for up to 4 months. Thaw frozen layers to room temperature before icing and assembly.
You can swap the shredded coconut for chopped nuts and the figs for raisins. Just keep to the same measurements.
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Moist Coconut Carrot Cake
Ingredients
Carrot Cake
- 313 grams all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 220 grams dark brown sugar, packed
- 100 grams granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
- 171 grams mashed ripened banana
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 224 grams coconut oil, liquid
- 200 grams fresh carrots, peeled and grated
- 42 grams shredded sweetened coconut
- 128 grams dried figs, chopped *optional to swap for raisins or dates
Ricotta Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 112 grams ricotta cheese, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 440 grams powdered sugar
Topping
- shredded sweetened coconut, sprinkle on top of frosting
Instructions
Carrot Cake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (180 C). Prepare two 9 inch round cake pans with non-stick spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl.
- Place eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, mashed banana, maple syrup and vanilla extract into a separate large bowl. Hand whisk together until smooth.
- Add in room temperature melted coconut oil and whisk until mixed in.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Using a wooden spoon or sturdy rubber spatula and mix until just combined. Don't over mix the batter.
- Fold in the carrots, coconut, and figs in intervals.
- Scoop the cake batter into the two prepared cake pans dividing the batter evenly.
- Bake at 350°F (180 C) for 30-35 minutes on the middle rack. Check for doneness when the tops of the cakes have a slight spring and a toothpick inserted into the center of each one comes out clean.
- Transfer baked cake layers to a wire cooling rack for 25-30 minutes or until completely cooled.
- Run a small sharp knife or offset spatula around the edges of the cake and invert the cooled cake layers to remove.
- Remove the parchment paper from the bottom of each layer.
- Place a single layer on desired cake dish. Top with cream cheese icing, sprinkle with shredded coconut.
- Place second layer on cake and repeat by covering the top of cake with icing and a sprinkling of shredded coconut.
- Slice and serve.
Ricotta Cream Cheese Frosting
- Using an electric mixer with whisk attachment on high speed, beat together cream cheese and ricotta cheese. Mix in the honey and vanilla extract.
- Reduce speed to low and slowly spoon in powdered sugar. Whip on medium high speed until smooth.
- Store frosting in an air tight container in the fridge until ready to use.
Notes
Even Cake Layers
Weigh the cake pans once you’ve added the batter, to ensure you’ve divided them into two equal layers.Substitutions
You can swap the shredded coconut for chopped nuts and the figs for raisins. Just keep to the same measurements.
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