This cozy Hairy Bikers Carrot Cake is made with grated carrots, self-raising flour, light brown sugar, sultanas, orange zest, and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The result is a wonderfully moist and flavorful cake, perfect for an afternoon treat. This recipe creates a generous cake perfect for sharing with family and friends, making it an ideal centerpiece for any casual get-together or weekend bake.
Hairy Bikers Carrot Cake Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 3 medium carrots (about 250g total weight), peeled and grated
- 3 large eggs
- 100ml sunflower oil, plus extra for greasing
- 100g soft light brown sugar
- 200g self-raising flour
- 100g sultanas
- Finely grated zest of ½ a large orange
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp grated nutmeg
- 1½ tsp baking powder
For the Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional):
- 200g full-fat cream cheese
- 100g icing sugar, sifted
- Finely grated zest of ½ a large orange
How To Make Hairy Bikers Carrot Cake
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 190°C/Fan 170°C/Gas 5. Grease a 23cm round loose-based cake tin with a little oil and line the base with baking parchment.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the eggs with a large metal whisk. Add the sunflower oil and brown sugar, and continue to whisk until everything is well combined.
- Add Carrots and Dry Ingredients: Stir the grated carrot into the wet mixture. Next, add the self-raising flour, sultanas, orange zest, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking powder. Gently stir everything together until it is just combined. Be careful not to overmix.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into your prepared cake tin and smooth the surface. Bake in the center of the oven for 25–30 minutes. The cake is ready when it is well-risen, springy to the touch, and just beginning to pull away from the sides of the tin.
- Cool the Cake: Let the cake cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make the Frosting (Optional): If you are making the frosting, beat the cream cheese, sifted icing sugar, and orange zest together in a bowl until smooth and creamy.
- Decorate and Serve: Once the cake is completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting over the top. You can add a final sprinkle of orange zest for decoration before slicing and serving.
Recipe Tips
- Use Room Temperature Eggs: For a smoother batter, make sure your eggs are at room temperature before you start. This helps them combine more easily with the oil and sugar.
- Don’t Overmix the Batter: When you add the dry ingredients, mix only until they are just incorporated. Overmixing can develop the gluten in the flour, resulting in a tough cake.
- Freshly Grate Your Carrots: For the best flavor and moisture, use fresh carrots and grate them yourself just before adding them to the batter. Pre-grated carrots are often dry.
- Check for Doneness: To ensure your cake is perfectly cooked, insert a skewer into the center. If it comes out clean, the cake is done. If there is wet batter on it, it needs a few more minutes.
What To Serve With Carrot Cake
This delicious Hairy Bikers Carrot Cake is wonderful on its own with a hot cup of tea or coffee. For a more indulgent dessert, serve a slice with a generous dollop of the tangy cream cheese frosting. It also pairs beautifully with a simple scoop of vanilla ice cream, which complements the warm spices in the cake. For a bit of texture, a sprinkle of toasted pecans or walnuts on top of the frosting adds a delightful crunch.
How To Store Carrot Cake Leftovers
- Refrigerate: If your cake has cream cheese frosting, it must be stored in the refrigerator. Place the cake in an airtight container to keep it fresh and prevent it from drying out. It will last for up to 4 days.
- Freeze: You can freeze the unfrosted cake for longer storage. Wrap the cooled cake tightly in plastic wrap, followed by a layer of aluminum foil. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw the cake overnight in the refrigerator before frosting and serving.
Hairy Bikers Carrot Cake Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Total Fat: 11g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
- Sodium: 180mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 34g
- Dietary Fiber: 2g
- Sugars: 18g
- Protein: 4g
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use a different type of oil? Yes, you can substitute sunflower oil with other neutral-flavored oils like vegetable oil or rapeseed oil. Avoid using oils with strong flavors, as they can alter the taste of the cake.
- Can I add nuts to this recipe? Absolutely! Chopped walnuts or pecans are a classic addition to carrot cake. You can add about 75g of chopped nuts to the batter along with the dry ingredients for extra texture and flavor.
- Why does my cake sink in the middle? A cake can sink for a few reasons: opening the oven door too early, which causes a sudden drop in temperature, or not being fully cooked through. Make sure to bake it until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Is the cream cheese frosting necessary? No, the cake is deliciously moist and flavorful on its own. The Hairy Bikers’ original recipe suggests a simple dusting of icing sugar as an alternative to the rich frosting.
Try More Recipes:
- Hairy Bikers Dundee Cake Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Coffee And Walnut Cake Recipe
- Hairy Bikers Ginger Cake Recipe
Hairy Bikers Carrot Cake Recipe
Description
This cozy Hairy Bikers Carrot Cake is made with grated carrots, self-raising flour, light brown sugar, sultanas, orange zest, and warming spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. The result is a wonderfully moist and flavorful cake, perfect for an afternoon treat.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
For the Cream Cheese Frosting (Optional):
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat oven to 190°C/Fan 170°C/Gas 5. Grease and line a 23cm round loose-based cake tin.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Add the sunflower oil and brown sugar and whisk until combined.
- Add Carrots and Dry Ingredients: Stir in the grated carrot. Add the flour, sultanas, orange zest, spices, and baking powder. Stir until just combined.
- Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into the prepared tin and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until risen and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Frost: Cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning onto a wire rack to cool completely. If using, beat frosting ingredients until smooth and spread over the cooled cake.
Hairy Bikers Carrot Cake Recipe
