Carrot Crumb Cake

Carrot Crumb Cake: A Perfect Fusion of Flavors

If you love the warmth and richness of a traditional carrot cake but crave something a little different, look no further than carrot crumb cake. This irresistible dessert combines the comforting flavors of spiced carrot cake with the buttery, crumbly goodness of a streusel topping, creating a deliciously satisfying treat that’s perfect for any occasion.

The Best of Both Worlds

Carrot cake is beloved for its moist texture and warm spices—cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves—paired with sweet grated carrots that bring both moisture and natural sweetness to the batter. But what if we took it up a notch? Enter the crumb cake element. The crumbly, sugary topping adds a wonderful crunch that perfectly complements the soft, spiced base. The contrast between the tender cake and the crisp topping creates a harmonious texture that's as satisfying to eat as it is to look at.

Simple Yet Delicious Ingredients

The beauty of carrot crumb cake lies in its simplicity. You don’t need any fancy ingredients to make this treat; just pantry staples like flour, sugar, oil, eggs, and, of course, fresh grated carrots. To make it even more special, a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg brings in those familiar flavors of carrot cake, while the streusel topping often includes brown sugar, butter, and flour for that signature crumbly texture.

This yummy carrot crumb cake even includes pineapple for added moisture, as well as chopped walnuts for a bit of crunch, with a cream cheese glaze to amplify that carrot cake flavor. But even in its most basic form, this cake is a crowd-pleaser.

A Versatile Dessert

What makes carrot crumb cake so perfect is how versatile it is. You can serve it at brunch, as a dessert after dinner, or even as a sweet snack with a cup of tea or coffee. The cake itself is moist and flavorful enough to stand alone, but the crumb topping gives it an extra special touch, making it a great choice for holidays, gatherings, or just a cozy afternoon treat.

Conclusion

Carrot crumb cake is the perfect dessert for those who adore the flavors of carrot cake but want something a bit different. With its spiced base and crumbly topping, it’s sure to delight your taste buds and become a new favorite. Whether you’re serving it to guests or enjoying it solo, this cake is a comforting, flavorful treat that’s hard to resist. So, preheat your oven, grab those carrots, and get ready to bake a cake that’s bound to become a staple in your recipe collection!

Baking Tips

To ensure your carrot crumb cake turns out perfect, here are a few quick tips:

1. Grate the Carrots Finely: The finer the carrot, the better the texture of the cake. You don’t want large chunks of carrot in your batter, so grate them finely or pulse them in a food processor.

2. Don’t Overmix: When making the batter, be sure to mix until it is combined. Overmixing can lead to a dense cake; we want light, fluffy results.

3. Perfecting the Crumb Topping: Make sure your butter is melted when making the streusel topping. Melting the butter creates easy-to-work-with crumbs that bake up beautifully crunchy and golden.

4. Cream Cheese Glaze: Making the glaze can be versatile. Your preference depends on whether you want a thicker glaze or a thinner glaze. Simply add more powdered sugar for a thicker glaze or more milk for a thinner glaze. (see notes below).

How to Store Carrot Crumb Cake (with Cream Cheese Frosting)

If you’ve added the creamy cream cheese glaze to your carrot crumb cake, it’s important to store it properly to ensure it stays safe to eat.

1. Room Temperature Storage (without cream cheese frosting)

If your carrot crumb cake doesn't have any frosting or cream cheese glaze, it can be stored at room temperature for up to 3-4 days. Simply wrap the cake in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container to keep it fresh.

2. Refrigeration (with cream cheese frosting)

For cakes with cream cheese frosting or glaze, always store it in the refrigerator. Cream cheese can spoil quickly at room temperature, so keeping the cake chilled is important. Place the cake in an airtight container before refrigerating. This will keep it fresh for up to 1 week.

3. Freezing Carrot Crumb Cake (with or without frosting)

If you want to make the cake ahead of time or have leftovers, freezing is a great option:

• Cool Completely: Let the cake cool fully before freezing.

• Wrap Tightly: If the cake has cream cheese frosting, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, or place it in a freezer-safe container or bag.

• Storage: It can be frozen for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy, let it thaw in the fridge overnight or at room temperature for a few hours.

Important Tip: When storing the cake with cream cheese frosting in the fridge or freezer, make sure it is well wrapped to avoid it drying out or absorbing other odors from the fridge.

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Carrot crumb cake is the perfect dessert for those who adore the flavors of carrot cake but want something a bit different. With its spiced base and crumbly topping, it’s sure to delight your taste buds and become a new favorite. Whether you’re serving it to guests or enjoying it solo, this cake is a comforting, flavorful treat that’s hard to resist. So, preheat your oven, grab those carrots, and get ready to bake a cake that’s bound to become a staple in your recipe collection!

If you enjoy this recipe or change it up to make it your own, leave a comment below to let me know how you like it! Happy baking ☺️

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Carrot Crumb Cake

Yield: 9

Author: Jaegar Desjardin

Prep time: 20 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 50 Min

This carrot crumb cake is a delicious twist on traditional carrot cake, combining the rich flavors of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and shredded carrots in a simple cake. With a crunchy crumble on top and a slight spiced kick, this crumb cake is the perfect treat for any occasion.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup crushed pineapple
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Crumb topping

• 1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick), melted
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Glaze

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup salted butter, softened and slightly melted (see notes).
• 3/4 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 3-4 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl, add all of the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger). Then, use a whisk to incorporate all the dry ingredients together.
3. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture and add the eggs, greek yogurt, pineapple, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract. Whisk the wet ingredients until just incorporated, then switch to using a spatula to fold in the flour. Then, fold in the carrots and walnuts.
4. Pour mixture into prepared baking pan.
5. Next, in a separate bowl, make the crumb topping.
6. While the butter cools, shred the carrots and set aside.
7. Add the melted butter and brown sugar to a separate bowl and mix with a spatula until combined.
8. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and mix until just combined.
9. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides and add the dry ingredients. Fold the ingredients together until there are no clumps of flour without overmixing.
10. Add one cup of shredded carrots and 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts and incorporate them into the dough.
11. Transfer to your prepared baking pan.
12. Next, make the crumb topping. Melt the butter in a bowl and add the melted butter, flour, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Use a fork or your fingers to incorporate the dough into a crumble.
13. Sprinkle the crumb topping over the cake mixture, and then bake it in the oven for 30-40 minutes.
14. Allow the cake to cool, and make the cream cheese glaze. Slightly melt the butter (around 10 seconds in the microwave). Add the softened cream cheese and butter to a medium-sized bowl and use a hand mixer to incorporate the ingredients (1-2 minutes). Sift the powdered sugar to avoid any large clumps, then place it in the bowl and mix until combined. Add the vanilla bean paste and 2-3 tablespoons of milk and mix. If the glaze is still thick, add more milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. If the glaze is too runny, add extra powdered sugar one tablespoon at a time.
15. Once the cake is cooled, drizzle the glaze over the cake, whether with a whisk, spoon, or piping bag (or ziplock).
16. Serve and Enjoy!

Equipment

1. 9x9 baking pan
2. Parchment paper
3. Wire rack
4. Spatula
5. Bowls
6. Hand mixer

Notes

• Take the cream cheese out of the refrigerator for up to one hour before making the glaze. Cream cheese is only good for up to 2 hours at room temperature.
• Slightly melt the butter for 10 seconds to avoid clumps in the glaze. If you didn't melt the butter and you find clumps, heat the finished glaze in 10-second intervals, mixing in between until there are no clumps.
• You can add shredded coconut or raisins if you choose.