Two Layer Chocolate Carrot Cake

I love both carrot cake and chocolate cake, but for some reason couldn’t see the point of combining the two to make chocolate carrot cake. Why ruin a carrot cake with chocolate or vice versa? Misgivings aside, I finally tried a recipe for Chocolate Carrot Cake.

This Chocolate Carrot Cake, adapted from a Mrs. Fields recipe, is made with the usual carrot cake proportions, but rather than spices, includes a half cup of cocoa powder and some pineapple. In the introduction, Mrs. Fields promises the cocoa is not overpowering and that the cake has the moist crumb you expect from good carrot cake. This was reassuring, because my main motivation for making this cake was that I’d become obsessed with brown carrot cakes (as opposed to very orange ones) and didn’t necessarily want chocolate flavor.

So I’ll zip right to the results and tell you the cake was just the right shade of brown. And as Mrs. Fields promised, the chocolate flavor was very subtle. It made me wonder if maybe the secret to dark carrot cakes like the ones served at restaurants is cocoa powder. After all, if the taste is subtle with 1/3 to 1/2 cup, then it would be really subtle with a smaller amount.

In conclusion, I am now determined to try more chocolate carrot cakes. After making this one, I found Chef Scott Peacock’s recipe, which uses a tablespoons of cocoa powder and a full tablespoon of cinnamon. As much as we loved the Mrs. Field’s version, I’ll have to try the 1 tablespoon cocoa version for comparison.

Print Recipe

Chocolate Carrot Cake

This is a very taste carrot cake with a subtle chocolate flavor. Unlike most carrot cakes, this one calls for butter instead of oil, and is not at all greasy. Nuts are optional, but I recommend keeping the undrained pineapple, as it adds moisture, texture and flavor to the cake.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Servings: 16

Author: Cookie Madness

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour 10 oz
• 2 cups granulated or raw sugar 14 oz
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 4 large eggs
• 3 sticks 12 oz unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1 small can crushed pineapple in juice undrained
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 2/3 cup toasted walnuts optional

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 16 oz cream cheese softened
• 4 oz 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 2-3 cups powdered sugar plus more if desired
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup or sweetened flaked coconut optional

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9x2 inch round cake pans.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda and cocoa powder.
• In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs with an electric mixer until foamy. Gradually beat in the butter and the vanilla.
• Using a large scraper, gradually stir the flour mixture into the egg mixture. Once the flour is blended, stir in the carrots and crushed pineapple. Add nuts (if using)
• Divide cake between the pans and bake for about 35 or until the tops are brown and spring back when touched. Let cool before removing from pans.
• To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar, scraping bowl often. Beat in the vanilla. Taste test, and if the frosting is not sweet enough for you, add more sugar. If desired, add the coconut.
• I like adding the coconut to a portion of the frosting and using that portion in the center only.
• Frost the cake with the cream cheese icing.

Notes

Mrs. Fields uses 1/2 cup of cocoa powder. I tested with 1/3 cup and 1/2 cup and was happy with the results of both amounts. Walnuts are optional, as is cinnamon. I added 2 teaspoons of cinnamon to the second cake and it tasted good, but seemed less cinnamon-y than a typical carrot cake with 2 teaspoons of cinnamon. I think the cocoa powder mutes the cinnamon a bit.

Have you ever made Chocolate Carrot Cake? If so, what’s your favorite recipe?