20 Crave-Worthy Carrot Cake Recipes

Not only do pumpkin and carrots share the same vivid orange hue, but their flavors are so complementary in this spiced cake. And it's moister than every thanks to buttermilk and pure pumpkin purée.

You'll be wowed by the ruffled appearance of this springtime cake and even more delighted by the flavor inside. The cake batter is classic—flavored with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. However, it's the white chocolate and cream cheese frosting that makes it something truly special.

Instead of a slice of carrot cake, try these innovative cookies. They're like classic thumbprint cookies but topped with a rich cream cheese icing as well as apricot jam for bonus sweetness and color.

A shortcut to carrot cake deliciousness: Instead of filling and frosting layers, bake one thin cake and cut it into small rounds. Then layer apricot jam, orange cream-cheese filling, and cake in glasses. You get to scoop up a bit of everything in each delectable bite.

This is one of Martha's hands-down favorite desserts. Fresh ginger, citrusy cream cheese frosting, and decorative candied carrot strips make this spectacular cake really stand out.

Oat flour and hazelnuts switch things up in these delicious carrot cupcakes.

A ring mold transforms this simple frosting-free carrot cake into something a bit more festive. It can be made up to three days in advance.

We love the blend of spices (cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg) in these knockout cupcakes, as well as their moist, tender crumb. Orange zest gives the cream cheese frosting extra oomph.

Low-fat plain yogurt steps in for oil here, producing a light yet satisfying riff on classic carrot cake.

Give your carrot cupcakes an elegant upgrade by using a springerle mold to imprint a rabbit design in circles of fondant. Seeking something more low key? Simply decorate with cream cheese frosting and toasted coconut.

Of course a bunny cake has to be carrot-flavored. Cream cheese frosting and mini marshmallows form the rabbit's fur, and it has got chocolate-covered espresso beans for eyes, a jelly-bean nose, licorice whiskers, and a cotton-candy tail and ears.

Reminiscent of whoopie pies, these light and chewy carrot cookies are sandwiched together with a slathering of cream cheese frosting.

Using a food processor makes quick work of the batter for this crowd-pleasing dessert. Keep things simple by frosting and serving the cake from the baking dish.

Gluten-free and Passover-friendly, this carrot cake is studded with golden raisins and buttery pecans. It's finished with a dusting of granulated sugar and potato starch in lieu of confectioners' sugar, which isn't kosher.

Sprinkled with shredded coconut, this scaled-down version of traditional carrot cake is a smart choice for parties and potlucks.

Cream cheese frosting is tinted two different shades of green for this springy dessert. The dark green is used to ice the carrot cake, and the light green is piped into decorative leaves. Colorful lollipops add an extra festive touch.

This oversized cake feeds a crowd and is generous with the cream cheese frosting. Isn't frosting the main reason carrot cake is so beloved anyway?

Definitely a weekend project kind of dessert! This unforgettable number is bound to be the centerpiece of any party. Rounds of carrot-orange cake and zucchini cake serve as the base and are topped with cream cheese frosting, chocolate cookie crumb "dirt," marzipan fruits and vegetables, and a picket fence made out of pastillage (a thick sugar paste).

We find ourselves coming back to this classic loaf again and again. It hits all the right spots when we're struck by a carrot cake craving.