Old Fashioned Carrot Cake Recipe with Pineapple
This is a crowd-pleasing, super moist carrot cake recipe with pineapple, packed with extra flavor from walnuts, coconut and a classic cream cheese icing.
And no stand mixer needed – the whole cake is mixed with a wooden spoon!
I got this recipe a long time ago from a colleague in Montreal. Although she’s a dietitian and this cake has a lot of healthy ingredients, it’s not exactly low calorie. Oh well. Some things are worth it. This cake always gets rave reviews.
Regardless, this old fashioned carrot cake recipe is delicious and you can skip the cream cheese icing if you really want to (it’s great without it too). For what it’s worth, I reduced the sugar by 1/2 cup and the oil by 1/4 cup from the original recipe.
I checked many other highly rated carrot and pineapple cake recipes on the internet (as usual) – all very similar. The closest one I found is from allrecipes.
I love that I don’t have to drag out any equipment to make this cake. Just mix everything together with a spoon. I did, however, use my food processor to make the icing in 2 minutes – love that.
If you love carrot cake – a super moist cake – you’ll love this one. The pineapple adds a touch of pineapple flavor (not overwhelming at all) and seriously enhances the moistness.
Can I make a layer cake instead of a sheet cake?
Yes, no problem. Instead of using a a flat 13 x 9 inch pan (33 x 23 cm), you can use two 8 x 8 inch round cake pans (20 x 20 cm) and make a double layer cake. Or, cut the 13 x 9 inch cake in half for a square double layer cake.
Tailor To Your Taste
- Shred an apple with the carrots and add it to the batter. Even more healthiness!
- Add a bit more allspice or a pinch of ground cloves for an even more flavorful carrot cake.
- If you prefer a carrot cake recipe without nuts, leave them out.
- Instead of cream cheese icing, serve it plain or with an orange glaze that you can find in our recipe for whole orange cake
Step by Step
Shortcuts
- You can buy pre-shredded carrots, but they tend to be much drier, so if you have the time, use fresh carrots and shred them with a hand grater or in the processor.
- Leave out the cream cheese icing. And dust on some powdered confectioner sugar if you like.
Make Ahead Carrot and Pineapple Cake
- This cake will keep will in the fridge (iced or not iced), covered, for several days.
- You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Other delicious cake recipes you might enjoy
- best banana cake with chocolate icing
- moist apple cake recipe with bourbon caramel sauce
- whole orange cake (super moist)
- simplified blueberry cake with cream cheese frosting
- old fashioned easy strawberry shortcake (20 minutes)
- orange polenta cake (gluten free)
Old Fashioned Carrot Cake Recipe with Pineapple
Ingredients
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon allspice
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups white sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups shredded carrots (or a bit more) ~3 large carrots shred with processor or grater
- 1 cup flaked or shredded coconut
- 1 cup (or 3/4 cup) crushed pineapple, drained 8-10 ounce can. You can also finely chop canned or fresh pineapple chunks.
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup golden raisins (optional)
Homemade Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 package cream cheese, 8-ounce (230 g) light is fine
- 1/4 cup salted or unsalted butter 1/2 stick
- 2 cups icing sugar also called confectioner or powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/177C and gather all ingredients. Grease (or spray with cooking spray) and flour a 9 x 13 inch (33 x 23 cm) baking pan for a single layer cake. Note 1
- MAKE BASIC BATTER: Stir together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and allspice in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla to the flour mixture. Combine well with a wooden spoon.
- ADD BULK INGREDIENTS TO BATTER: Add to bowl the grated carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple and raisins (if using). Combine everything well with wooden spoon.
- BAKE: Pour cake batter into prepared pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick/cake tester comes out clean. Cool on wire rack or transfer to freezer uncovered right in the pan for 40 minutes (I do this with banana cake and it comes out super moist – so does carrot cake).
- MAKE ICING: While cake is baking or cooling, make cream cheese icing. With processor – add icing ingredients and process on high until smooth, about 1-2 minutes, scraping sides down once or twice. Note 2.
- FINISH AND SERVE: Ice cake with creamy frosting and garnish, if desired, with chopped walnuts, shredded carrot or chopped pineapple.
Recipe Notes
- Other pans to use: Instead of using a a flat 13 x 9 inch (33 x 23 cm) pan, you can use two round 8 x 8 inch (20 x 20 cm) pans and make a double layer cake. Or, cut the 13 x 9 inch cake in half for a square double layer cake.
- To make cream cheese icing using an electric mixer: In a separate bowl, cream butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add icing sugar and continue beating for 2 minutes.
- Variations
- Shred an apple with the carrots and add it to the batter. Even more healthiness!
- Add a bit more allspice or a pinch of ground cloves to intensify the flavors if you like those spices.
- If you prefer a carrot cake recipe without nuts, leave them out.
- Instead of cream cheese icing, serve it plain or with an orange glaze that you can find in our recipe for whole orange cake
- Make Ahead: This cake will keep will in the fridge (iced or not iced), covered, for several days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months. Bring to room temperature before serving.
Nutrition
The carrot pineapple cake recipe, originally published Jan 2018, has been up updated with a few minor tweaks to information and images.
Love this recipe.
Thank you Betty 😉
I wanted to let y’all know I used the recipe yesterday my daughter’s have been asking me to make their great grandma’s carrot cake I love to cook big meals because my four daughters all show up at my youngest daughter’s house with their sons and daughters my grandchildren any way I baked two roast and mashed potatoes with pea salad and corn with a Italian garlic bread they all kept saying that the meal was amazing and the very best ever when I set the carrot cake on the table they all said it smelled just like their great granny’s carrot cake and all 12 of the family kept saying as they took the first bite that it was amazing and delicious and I was soooooooo happy that I had at last found the exact recipe my granny had made us for soooooooo many years my granny was 99 yrs old when she went to heaven and my youngest daughter told me as she was enjoying her piece of carrot cake that she just knew granny was with me while I made this amazing recipe so thank you for sharing this priceless recipe and my daughter’s along with myself will keep it for many many yrs to come God bless and thank y’all 🙏❤️
Oh my! What a wonderful story Della! We are thrilled that our carrot cake recipe brought back special memories for you and your family. Thank you so much for sharing the moment 🙂
Can I make this into cupcakes?
Good question Susan. Yes, cupcakes should be fine. I haven’t tried them with this recipe, but typically, you raise the temperature about 25 degrees (in this case to 375F/190C) and bake them for less time. I would start checking at about 15 or 18 minutes. You may need longer – most ovens are not very accurate. When a tester comes out clean they are done.
Excellent
After searching quite a few carrot cake recipes I decided to try your recipe.
I baked it in a Bundt pan for an hour, I live in a high altitude area. It baked up nice and moist and I only went with half of cup coconut. Delish! I’m done searching for a good Carrot cake recipe, Thank you.
Aww – thank you Naomi! Love to hear that 🙂
Excellent cake and just how I remember my mum and MIL making it. Definitely a keeper.
Glad you enjoyed this old fashioned cake Liz.
I’m not usually a carrot cake lover but when I saw this recipe, I just had to make it. And I had all the ingredients. This is the best carrot cake I have ever tasted! So moist and flavourful. Also simple to make. I think next time I will use less sugar because it’s already sweet without the icing. And it’s a great size to bring to barbecues & picnics. I will definitely make this recipe again. Best carrot cake ever!
So happy you liked it Barbara. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment. ?
Best cake ever from family and friends comments
So glad everyone liked it! And thanks very much for taking the time to leave a comment. We always appreciate that!
Can this be baked in a bundt pan?
Hi Pauline. Yes, you can use a bundt pan as long as there is about 1/2 inch space on top when you pour in the batter. Since a bundt pan is much deeper, you will have to increase the baking time. Start with an extra 10 minutes, check with a cake tester and, if not done, keep adding a few more minutes until the tester/toothpick comes out clean. Hope that helps.
I am leaving a five star rating because it looks delicious in table of pineapple I’m very interested in it and not to mention the very very healthy ingredients if you have any more ideas please tell me where to look my name also to is Cheryl
Thanks for the rating based on looks and ingredients Cheryl! I hope it will taste great too. If you tell me what kinds of dishes you’re interested in, I’d be happy to make some suggestions. In the meantime, enjoy the cake! Cheryl
Amazing! Made it exactly as written and added toasted coconut on top of the icing. Definitely will make this again.
So glad you liked it! I love the toasted coconut sprinkle idea.
I served this to my 11 Bunco buddies, and wow, did they love it! My husband is happily finishing up the left overs now.
Glad it was a hit! Thanks for leaving a comment. ?