Description
This Air Fryer Carrot Cake is a moist, flavorful dessert made with freshly grated carrots, warm spices, and a rich cream cheese frosting. Using an air fryer to bake the cake ensures a soft texture with a perfectly cooked crust, all in under an hour. Ideal for carrot cake lovers wanting a quick, easy, and less conventional way to bake their favorite cake.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Frosting
- 4 ounces (115g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Batter: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat the eggs with granulated sugar, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and evenly mixed.
- Combine Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing gently. Fold in the grated carrots and chopped nuts if using, ensuring even distribution without overmixing.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set the air fryer to 320°F (160°C) and preheat for 3-5 minutes to prepare for baking.
- Prepare Cake Pan: Lightly grease a 6-inch cake pan or line it with parchment paper. Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the surface evenly.
- Air Fry the Cake: Place the cake pan inside the air fryer basket and cook at 320°F (160°C) for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Make Frosting: Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until creamy and smooth. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar, mixing until the frosting is fluffy and well combined.
- Frost and Serve: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled cake. Optionally, garnish with additional chopped nuts or a light sprinkle of cinnamon before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature eggs and cream cheese for a smoother batter and frosting.
- Adjust sweetness by modifying sugar quantities as preferred.
- The cake pan size is important to ensure even cooking in the air fryer; a 6-inch pan works best.
- Check for doneness early to avoid overbaking, as air fryers may vary in heat intensity.
- Optional nuts can be omitted to make the cake nut-free.
