Easy Carrot Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

Carrot Cake:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, *measured correctly
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp ground allspice
• 1/4 tsp ground cloves, optional
• 1/2 tsp fine sea salt
• 1 cup vegetable oil, or extra light olive oil or canola
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 3/4 cup applesauce (or drained crushed pineapple)
• 3 cups finely grated carrots (14 oz or 6 medium carrots)
• 1 cup pecans, chopped, plus more to garnish, optional
• 3/4 cup golden raisins, or regular raisins, optional

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1 1/2 cups (3/4 lb) unsalted butter
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 4 cups (1 lb) powdered sugar
• 1 Tbsp real vanilla extract
• 1/8 tsp or a generous pinch of salt