Quick Carrot Cake in a Pan with Cream Cheese Frosting

Crafting a perfectly moist and utterly delicious carrot cake doesn’t always demand endless kitchen time. This recipe is designed for those who crave the satisfaction of a homemade treat with maximum efficiency. Everything comes together without delay or complex steps, allowing you to savour a slice of this delightful carrot cake with its creamy cheese frosting from prep to plate in around 30 minutes. It’s the ideal solution for an impromptu snack or a stress-free after-dinner dessert that won’t keep you tethered to the hob for hours.

Quick Overview

• Preparation Time: 12 minutes
• Cooking Time: 18 minutes
• Difficulty: Easy
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 4.2 oz (120g) plain flour
• 3.5 oz (100g) caster sugar
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
• ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
• A pinch of salt
• 1 large egg
• 2 fl oz (60ml) vegetable oil (sunflower or corn)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4.2 oz (120g) finely grated carrots (about 2 medium)
• For the Frosting:
• 3.5 oz (100g) cream cheese, chilled
• 1 oz (30g) unsalted butter, softened
• 2.1 oz (60g) icing sugar
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Method

1. Prepare the batter (5-7 minutes): In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg with the oil and vanilla extract. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the grated carrots.
2. Cook the cake (18-20 minutes): Lightly grease a non-stick frying pan (approximately 8 inches / 20cm in diameter) and heat it over a medium-low flame. Pour the batter into the pan, levelling the surface. Cover with a lid (or aluminium foil) and cook for 18-20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.
3. Prepare the frosting (3-5 minutes): While the cake is cooking, in a bowl, beat the cream cheese, softened butter, icing sugar, and vanilla extract with a whisk (or an electric mixer) until smooth and creamy.
4. Cool and serve (5 minutes): Remove the pan from the heat and allow the cake to cool for a few minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely. Once cold, spread the cream cheese frosting over the surface. Slice and serve.

Serving & Leftovers

This cake is delicious served warm or at room temperature. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. It’s perfect for a mid-afternoon treat or a light dessert after a meal.

Nutrition

Nutritional values are estimates and may vary depending on ingredients and portions.

One Last Thing

Integrating recipes like this into your culinary routine offers a practical way to explore new flavours without compromising on time. If you appreciated the simplicity and speed of this preparation, there are many more swift and gratifying recipes waiting to be discovered to enrich your daily meals with SmartKitchen30.