Let’s be honest—carrot cake is already pretending to be healthy. So why not take it a step further and add coffee for an extra kick? This coffee-infused carrot cake blends warm spices, shredded carrots, and espresso into one moist, flavor-packed dessert. It’s rich, slightly nutty, and pairs perfectly with cream cheese frosting. One bite, and you’ll wonder why every carrot cake doesn’t come with caffeine. Who needs plain old tea cakes when you can have a bold, coffee-spiked version instead? Bake it, eat it, and pretend it counts as a serving of vegetables.
Coffee-Infused Carrot Cake
A moist, spiced carrot cake with a bold coffee twist—perfect for dessert or a sneaky breakfast.
Ingredients
For the Cake:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp espresso powder
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups finely grated carrots
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts optional
For the Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp brewed espresso optional
Instructions
Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
Prepare the Cake Batter:
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and espresso powder.
- In another bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy.
- Gradually mix in the oil and vanilla extract.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Fold in the grated carrots and walnuts (if using).
Bake the Cake:
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
Make the Frosting:
- Beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth.
- Gradually add the powdered sugar, beating until fluffy.
- Stir in the vanilla and optional espresso.
Assemble the Cake:
- Once the cake has cooled, spread the frosting over the top and sides.
- Slice, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
Nutritional Values (Per Serving)
- Calories: 290
- Total Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 33g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
Vitamins and Minerals (Per Serving)
- Vitamin A: 15%
- Calcium: 4%
- Iron: 6%
- Vitamin C: 2%
- Magnesium: 5%
Additional Notes/Tips to Enhance the Flavor
- Add a touch of cardamom to elevate the spice profile.
- For a nuttier flavor, toast the walnuts before adding them to the batter.
- If you love a stronger coffee flavor, add a bit more espresso powder to the cake batter.
