This simple carrot cake recipe is one of my most requested desserts! This is an easy carrot cake recipe made with cake mix! I share how to make the box cake taste homemade and how to customize it to fit your taste.
Quick Look:
How to Make Boxed Cake Taste Homemade
- ⏱ Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 30 minutes
- 🍽️ Servings: 10 slices
- ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe: It's moist, customizable, flavorful, and tastes homemade. Starting with a boxed cake saves time!
- 🥕 Main Ingredients: Spice cake mix, carrots, eggs, and optional add-ins.
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy
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Jump to:
- Quick Look: How to Make Boxed Cake Taste Homemade
- ❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe for an Easy Carrot Cake
- Key Ingredients You'll Need For The Boxed Carrot Cake Hack:
- Substitutions
- 🧁 How to Make Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- 🥕 Carrot Cake Cupcakes
- 🧑🍳 How to make the carrot cake with a box of cake mix?
- 👩🍳 Expert Tip: The Bakery Secret for Extra Moist Cake
- 🎂 The Best Carrot Cake Topping - Cream Cheese Frosting
- 🥕 Best Add-Ins for Carrot Cake and How Much to Use:
- 🥕 How to Store Your Carrot Cake
- Easy Carrot Cake FAQ
- You may love these other Short-Cut Recipes
- Simple Carrot Cake Recipe
If you like easy cake recipes, you will also love my Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake that also starts with a cake mix.
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe for an Easy Carrot Cake
If you're craving a delicious homemade dessert that doesn't require tons of ingredients or time, this is the best easy carrot cake recipe for you! Using a simple boxed mix as the base, you'll create a moist, flavorful cake that tastes totally from scratch. Plus, if you're short on time, I've got a fantastic shortcut using cake mix and some fun add-ins to take your carrot cake to the next level.
I've tested this recipe using both oil and melted butter, and oil consistently creates a softer, more tender crumb. Freshly grated carrots also make a noticeable difference,
Key Ingredients You'll Need For The Boxed Carrot Cake Hack:
- Spice Cake Mix: (I used Betty Crocker brand) You can also use a Carrot Cake mix, but I'd add a bit of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cloves.
- Oil: I've tested this with melted butter but it's not as moist.
- Eggs: Large or extral large work in this recipe.
- Shredded carrots: Improves texture and add a fresh flavor.
- Cream Cheese Frosting- l love Ina Garten's recipe. It's listed above.
Substitutions
- Spice Cake Mix: Substitute carrot cake mix.
- Canola Oil: Substitute vegetable oil or light olive oil.
Even though a boxed cake mix is convenient, there are a few ways to make it taste like you spent hours baking it from scratch. Here's how to make easy carrot cake from a boxed mix with a little something extra.
Add Fresh Carrots: Adding freshly grated carrots to a boxed cake mix is an easy way to give it more texture and flavor. For an average-sized cake, I recommend using 1-2 cups of shredded carrots. You can finely grate them or leave them a bit chunkier for more texture.
Add sour cream and real vanilla extract
Use oil instead of butter, but you can also use applesauce! Swap out half the oil called for in the cake mix with unsweetened applesauce. It adds moisture and a hint of fruity sweetness.
🧁 How to Make Carrot Cake Cupcakes
🥕 Carrot Cake Cupcakes
Turning your easy carrot cake recipe into cupcakes is super simple. Just follow these steps:
Prepare the batter as per the instructions on the box, adding your fresh carrots and any spices or add-ins of choice.
Line a muffin tin with cupcake liners and fill each one about ⅔ of the way full.
Bake at 350°F for 18-22 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean
Let the cupcakes cool completely before frosting with cream cheese frosting (more on that below!).
🧑🍳 How to make the carrot cake with a box of cake mix?
- Preheat and Prep
Preheat oven to 350°F. combine cake mix, sour cream, eggs, and milk.
- Folding Extras
Fold any extras from the list. Here I'm using coconut and carrots.
- Prepare Cake Pan
Fill two round cake pans with the mixture. Other pan sizes if using (see the recipe)
- Cool and frost
Cool and frost with the cream cheese frosting listed below.
👩🍳 Expert Tip: The Bakery Secret for Extra Moist Cake
Professional bakers use a simple sugar water soak(aka Simple Syrup) as a secret trick to guarantee ultra-moist cake layers.
Mix:
½ cup sugar + ½ cup water
Heat until dissolved, then cool slightly.
Use:
Drizzle 2-3 tablespoons per warm cake layer before frosting.
Why:
It locks in moisture, keeps the crumb soft for days, and prevents dryness - especially if you're baking ahead.
🎂 The Best Carrot Cake Topping - Cream Cheese Frosting
Well, Ina knows best on this one. See how to Make Ina Garten's Cream Cheese Frosting below.
Ina Garten's cream cheese frosting is a game-changer and the perfect topping for your easy carrot cake. It's simple to make and requires only a few ingredients:
12 oz cream cheese, softened
12 oz unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 ½ lbs powdered sugar (about 6 cups)
Beat the cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
Beat the cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until smooth and creamy.
Add the vanilla extract and mix until combined
Slowly add the powdered sugar and beat until it reaches your desired consistency. You want it to be thick enough to hold its shape but still spreadable.
- This frosting is creamy, rich, and perfectly sweet, making it the ideal pairing for the best easy carrot cake recipe.
You can mix and match any of these to suit your taste. Just be careful not to go overboard-too many add-ins can weigh the cake down.
One of the fun things about making carrot cake is all the extras you can add to the mix. Here are some popular add-ins and how much to use:
🥕 Best Add-Ins for Carrot Cake and How Much to Use:
Chopped Walnuts or Pecans: Adds a great crunch. Use about 1 cup.
Raisins: For a little chew and sweetness, mix in ¾ cup of raisins.
Shredded Coconut: This gives a tropical twist to your cake. Use ½ to ¾ c
up.Crushed Pineapple: Adds moisture and tang. Drain well and add 1 cup.
Chocolate Chips: Not traditional but why not? Add ¾ cup for a sweet surprise.
🥕 How to Store Your Carrot Cake
Once you've made your carrot cake, proper storage is key to keeping it fresh. Here's what to do:
Room Temperature: If your cake is unfrosted, it can sit at room temperature in an airtight container for up to two days.
Refrigerator: If frosted, store your cake in the fridge for up to five days. Make sure it's well-covered so the frosting doesn't dry out.
Freezer: Want to make your cake ahead of time? Wrap unfrosted layers tightly in plastic wrap and foil, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw in the fridge and frost before serving.
Easy Carrot Cake FAQ
Can I make this cake gluten-free?
Yes! Just swap out the boxed mix for a gluten-free carrot cake mix, and follow the same steps.
Absolutely! The add-ins above are just suggestions. It's delicious without the nuts and raisins added.
Yes, I've tested using the carrot cake mix, and a spiced cake mix and I prefer the spice cake mix!
The most common cause is overbaking. Check for doneness 5 minutes before the box instructions suggest using a toothpick. Or even better, use an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center and pull when the internal temperature is 200°-205°F degrees. 
You may love these other Short-Cut Recipes
If you make this simple carrot cake recipe, I'd love to know! Leave a comment below or tag me on Instagram @Lauren_Lane_Culinarian - I always reshare your creations.
Simple Carrot Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Spice Cake Mix I used Betty Crocker brand
- ½ cup butter salted or unsalted- melted
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- ⅓ cup sour cream
- 1 teas vanilla
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 cup crushed drained pineapple optional
- ½ cup chopped pecans optional
- ½ cup raisins optional
- Cream Cheese Frosting store bought or homemade
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Do not follow instructions on the cake mix.
- Grease two cake pans, a cup cake pan, or 9x11. Or use parchment paper to ensure it doesn't stick.
- Combine together spice cake mix, butter, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
- Fold in remaining ingredients (except cream cheese frosting) until combined.
- Pour into the pans.
- Bake according to box directions or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let it cool in the pan for a few minutes and remove to a cooling rack to cool the remaining time.
- Once completely cooled, frost the cake.
Notes
- Cream cheese. Beat in 8 ounces of room temperature plain cream cheese. This adds richness while cutting some of the sweetness of store-bought frosting.
- Butter. This makes a buttercream more buttery. Beat in 2 tablespoons room temperature butter, or more to taste.
- Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
- Add a an ⅛ teaspoon of salt to the frosting to cut the sweetness. It makes a difference!
Michele says
Can I use a Bundt pan?
Lynn says
The cake is beige and not brown at all followed instructions and add ins exactly. Spice cake mix, milk, 4 eggs, carrots, sour cream etc. also doesn’t rise at all.
Lauren Lane says
I'm sorry you weren't happy with your results. I'm not sure what happened. Others have commented that they really enjoyed it.
Mary says
The link to the recipe is for a salad. Can you please fix the link?
Lauren Lane says
fixed! thank you!
KB says
I haven't tried this recipe as of yet, however, I am. I just wanted to say, that the picture, if you didn't know it was a box mix, looks like it's from scratch. I love a semi-homemade recipe.
Elizabeth Ann Bray says
Awesomely delicious 😋
elle says
Can I substitute or get rid of the sour cream?
Lauren Lane says
Substitute plain Greek yogurt or crème fraîche:)
Leeann McCall says
Absolutely delicious!!!
Stephen Pohlman says
Great recipe. I’ve made from scratch carrot cake forever. This is every bit as good. I added the grated carrots, chopped pecans to cake and frosting, raisins, and crushed pineapple. Used carrot cake box mix instead of Spice. People ask for the recipe and are thrilled to find it’s so easy.
Leeann says
Can I do all of this but with a box of Duncan Hines carrot cake?
Lauren Lane says
yes- but may need to add a few spice cake spices.
Marisa says
One of my favourite dishes to make and is very delicious!!!!
Lauren Lane says
Yay!!! that is awesome!
Brenda says
Hi! Does this still yield a fluffy cake after all the add-ins?
Lauren Lane says
I think so! Someone else just commented that they had a lot of add-ins and people are always asking me for the recipe! Let me know what you think!
Rita G says
Your video shows a carrot cake mix but your recipe says spice cake mix
Lauren Lane says
Yes, on the recipe I share that either cake mix works. But I ended up preferring the spice cake mix. It had a little bit more flavor. Hope you love it!
Lauren Lane says
Either works. I started with the carrot cake, but then switched to the spice cake because it added a little bit more flavor.