Name: Carrot Cake Loaf (Quick Bread) Recipe
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 4 h 15 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1½ cups all-purpose flour; 1 tsp baking powder; ¾ tsp Baking Soda; ¼ tsp salt; 1 tsp Cinnamon; ½ tsp ginger; ¼ tsp nutmeg; ½ cup Vegetable Oil; 2 large eggs; 1 cup light brown sugar; ⅓ cup applesauce; 1 tsp pure vanilla extract; 1½ cups carrots; ¾ cup Walnuts; For Optional Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:; 4 oz cream cheese; 2 tbsp butter; 1 cup confectioners' sugar; ½ tsp pure vanilla extract; ¼ tsp ground cinnamon; pinch salt

How To Make Carrot Cake Loaf (Quick Bread)

Sink your teeth into this quick Carrot Cake Loaf! It’s fluffy and made extra flavorful with cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar. Serve plain or with frosting.

Preparation: 15 minutes

Cooking: 1 hour

Cool Time: 3 hours

Total: 4 hours 15 minutes

Serves:

Ingredients

1½cupsall-purpose flour,spoon and leveled
1tspbaking powder
¾tspbaking soda
¼tspsalt
1tspcinnamon,ground
½tspginger,ground
¼tspnutmeg,ground
½cupvegetable oil,or canola oil, or melted coconut oil
2large eggs,at room temperature
1cuplight brown sugar,or dark brown sugar, packed
⅓cupapplesauce,or yogurt, unsweetened, at room temperature
1tsppure vanilla extract
1½cupscarrots,(about 3 large carrots) peeled, shredded
¾cupwalnuts,chopped, or or pecans, raisins, or dried cranberries, optional

For Optional Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

4ozcream cheese,(block) softened to room temperature
2tbspbutter,unsalted, softened to room temperature
1cupconfectioners’ sugar
½tsppure vanilla extract
¼tspground cinnamon
pinchsalt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×5 inch loaf pan.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg together in a large bowl until combined.
Set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk the oil, eggs, brown sugar, applesauce, vanilla, and carrots together until combined.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently whisk until just combined.
Fold in the nuts or add-in. The atter will be semi-thick.
Spread the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake for 55 to 65 minutes. Loosely cover the bread with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent heavy browning on top, if preferred.
The bread is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean with zero raw batter.
Remove the bread from the oven.
Cool completely in the pan set on a wire rack before removing and frosting.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy.
Beat in the butter until combined.
Add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt (a little less than ⅛ teaspoon), then beat on low speed until smooth and creamy.
Taste.
Add more cinnamon and/or salt, if desired.
Frost the cooled bread, slice, and serve.

Recipe Notes

Baking times may vary so keep an eye on own cake.
Cover and store the leftover bread at room temperature for up to 3 to 4 days or in the refrigerator for up to about 10 days.
To store bread with frosting: Cover and store the leftover bread in the refrigerator for up to about 1 week.
Freezing Instructions: The loaf freezes best without frosting. Freeze the baked and cooled loaf for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. If desired, bring to room temperature and frost before serving.
Brown Sugar: The batter can work with different amounts of brown sugar. 1 cup of packed brown sugar produced a sweet cake-like loaf. ¾ cup or ⅔ cup produced a lightly sweetened loaf. Any less than that produced a bland loaf. Feel free to use anywhere between ⅔ to 1 cup depending on the flavor desired. It can also be substituted with white granulated sugar or coconut sugar, though the loaf won’t be as moist or flavorful. Liquid sweeteners are not recommended.
Applesauce or Yogurt: Either can be used. If either is not available, use the same amount of mashed banana, crushed pineapple, or sour cream.
Carrot: Don’t use pre-shredded carrots found in the produce aisle. They’re on the dry side. Rather, freshly grate 3 large carrots to yield approximately 1½ cups of moist carrot shreds. Instead of carrots, use shredded apple or even shredded zucchini.
For Mini Loaves: Grease a mini loaf pan. Prepare the batter as directed. Spoon the batter evenly into greased cups, filling to the top. Bake at 350 degrees F. Bake time and yield depends on the size of the mini loaf pan.

Nutrition

Calories: 448.23kcal
Fat: 23.49g
Saturated Fat: 5.95g
Trans Fat: 0.23g
Monounsaturated Fat: 12.56g
Polyunsaturated Fat: 3.25g
Carbohydrates: 55.31g
Fiber: 1.64g
Sugar: 34.98g
Protein: 5.19g
Cholesterol: 69.72mg
Sodium: 317.66mg
Calcium: 95.46mg
Potassium: 173.24mg
Iron: 1.70mg
Vitamin A: 287.34µg
Vitamin C: 3.53mg

Want to share your experience baking this delightful Carrot Cake Loaf or discuss variations on the recipe? Join our Baking and Desserts forum to connect with fellow bakers and dessert enthusiasts!