This air fryer carrot cake takes everything we love about this rich, flavorful cake and makes it all in the air fryer. It's full of tender, moist carrot cake and rich, cream cheese frosting.
I love carrot cake, and I love using my air fryer. I decided to combine them in this delicious cake recipe, and the results are fantastic! This carrot cake air fryer recipe is perfection and I kid you not.
Air Fryer Carrot Cake
This was inspired by my own layered carrot cake recipe, my naked carrot cake and our air fryer pumpkin cake recipe on this site!
My goodness, we love carrot cake so much we even have one made inside your slow cooker, carrot cake bars and the best cookies as well.
All make a great dessert after a special meal featuring this pineapple glazed ham. Frankly, this cake tastes great with everything.
Ingredients
You'll only need some basic kitchen staples to make this cake. You probably have most of them in your kitchen already.
- Eggs
- Brown sugar
- Vegetable oil
- All-Purpose Flour
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Baking soda
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground cloves
- Ground nutmeg
- Grated or shredded carrots
- Chopped walnuts, divided
- Cream cheese, softened
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
See the recipe card at the end of the post for exact quantities.
Instructions
It only takes a few easy steps to make this delicious cake. It's so easy, even beginners can make it.
Step 1: Prep
Spray a 7-inch round pan with cooking spray and coat it lightly with flour and set it aside.
Step 2: Combine the Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, brown sugar, and oil using a hand or stand mixer until smooth.
Step 3: Add the Dry Ingredients
Add the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg to the wet ingredients and beat until smooth. Then, add the carrots and 1 cup of walnuts and beat until the batter is fully combined.
Step 4: Bake
Transfer half of the batter to the prepared baking pan and air fry at 330 degrees for a cooking time of 20 to 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool for 15 minutes, then gently flip it out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Repeat the process with the remaining batter.
Step 5: Make the Frosting
While the second cake cools completely, beat the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until smooth.
Step 6: Assemble the Cake
Place one of the cake layers on a plate or cake stand. Then spread half of the frosting over it. Add the second cake layer and spread the remaining frosting on top. Sprinkle with the remaining walnuts and enjoy.
Hint: Be sure your cakes are fully cooled before adding the frosting or it will slide right off the cake!
Substitutions
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this air fryer carrot cake.
- Oil - If you don't have vegetable oil, you can use any oil with a neutral flavor.
- Cream Cheese Frosting - You can use store-bought cream cheese frosting if you like.
- Don't like walnuts - Use pecans instead.
Variations
Want to personalize this air fryer carrot cake recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.
- Zucchini - Replace half of the carrot with zucchini to make a zucchini carrot cake.
- Fully Frosted - If you love frosting, make a double batch and use it to fully frost the cake including the sides.
- Loads of Nuts - If you decide to fully frost your cake, coat the entire thing in chopped walnuts for an explosion of flavor in every bite.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this layered carrot cake from scratch.
Equipment
It only takes a few basic pieces of kitchen equipment to make this simple recipe.
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Grater
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer (with storage)
- 7-inch cake pans (with handle)
- Air fryer
- Frosting knife set
Storage
You can store this cake in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, you can freeze this cake for up to 3 months.
Tips
This is a fairly simple recipe, but I have some tips that you might find helpful. They're easy, but they can make a big difference.
- Fully soften your cream cheese and butter to ensure the best creaming and as a result, the best texture for your cake and frosting.
- Allow your eggs to come to room temperature for an even fluffier, more tender cake.
- Always let your cake cool completely before frosting or it will simply slide off the cake.
- Preheat your air fryer before using it. It's a myth that you don't have to, and it only takes about 5 minutes.
FAQ
Do you have questions about this air fryer carrot cake? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about air fryer carrot cake.
It will keep in the refrigerator for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Let it chill completely in the refrigerator. Then, open-air freeze it until solid. Finally, wrap it tightly in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil
Unlike many cream cheese recipes, cream cheese frosting freezes very well because of its high fat content.
More Cake Recipes
Do you like cake? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Air Fryer Carrot Cake
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Air Fryer Carrot Cake
Equipment
- Air Fryer My ninja does everything and I wish I bought it sooner!
Ingredients
Carrot Cake
- 3 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour -
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1 ½ cup chopped walnuts divided
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract -
Instructions
- Prepare a 7-inch round pan by spraying it with cooking spray and coating it lightly with flour.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, and oil together until smooth.
- Add flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Beat again until smooth.
- Add carrots and 1 cup walnuts. Beat until batter is consistent.
- Transfer half of the batter into your prepared pan.
- Preheat air fryer at 330ºF for 4 minutes.
- Place pan in air fryer basket.
- Air fryer for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow cake to cool for 15 minutes before gently flipping it out onto a surface it can cool on.
- Repeat the air frying process with the remaining batter.
- To prepare frosting, beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla together until smooth.
- Allow cake layers to cool completely before frosting.
- Assemble cake by spreading a layer of frosting in between cake layers and on top.
- Finish things off by sprinkling the remaining ½ cup of walnuts on top.
Nutrition
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