✔ Updated · 21 ideas, from classic cake to cookies, bars and ice cream
I love sneaking carrots into dessert, because they bring moisture, natural sweetness and that warm spiced flavor everyone loves in carrot cake. Here are 21 carrot desserts, grouped so you can find the perfect one fast.
The best carrot desserts are carrot cake and its spin-offs: carrot cake bars, cheesecake bars, cupcakes and loaves, plus carrot cake oatmeal cookies, whoopie pies, truffles, cinnamon rolls, donuts and carrot cake ice cream. Finely grated carrot keeps bakes moist, and warm spices plus cream cheese frosting give the classic flavor.
- Easiest: carrot cake bars or oatmeal cookies
- Showstopper: a layered carrot cake
- Make ahead: cheesecake bars or truffles
- No oven: carrot cake ice cream or truffles
Carrot Cakes and Loaves
Best Ever Carrot Cake
The classic: a moist, cinnamon-spiced layer cake with grated carrot, walnuts and a thick cream cheese frosting.
Italian Carrot Cake
A lighter, single-layer cake made with pureed carrots and almonds, dusted with powdered sugar instead of frosted.
Vegan Carrot Cake
Egg-free and dairy-free, with oil and flax for moisture and a cashew or vegan cream cheese frosting.
Fruit-Sweetened Carrot Cake Loaf
A snack-style loaf sweetened mostly with dates, banana and raisins. Great with a cup of tea.
Mini Layered Carrot Cake
Small stacked cakes, perfect for two or for a pretty Easter dessert table.
Pumpkin Carrot Cake
Pumpkin puree and grated carrot in one tender, spiced fall cake.
Bars and Cheesecakes
Carrot Cake Blondie Bars
Chewy brown sugar blondies packed with carrot, pineapple and nuts, topped with cream cheese frosting.
Cream Cheese Carrot Cake Bars
Soft sheet-pan carrot cake cut into squares with a thick layer of frosting. Easy to feed a crowd.
Apple Carrot Cake Bars
Grated apple and carrot together make these bars extra moist and lightly fruity.
Crunchy Carrot Cheesecake
Creamy cheesecake with a spiced carrot layer and a crunchy walnut crust.
Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars
A carrot cake base swirled with cheesecake batter. Two desserts in one tidy bar.
Cookies and Bite-Size Treats
Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies
Soft, chewy oatmeal cookies with grated carrot, raisins and warm spice.
Carrot Cake Thumbprint Cookies
Spiced carrot cookies with a little well of cream cheese frosting in the middle.
Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies
Two soft, cakey carrot cookies sandwiched with cream cheese filling.
Carrot Cake Bites
Bite-size cake squares or mini muffins, great for parties and lunchboxes.
Carrot Cake Truffles
Crumbled carrot cake mixed with frosting, rolled into balls and dipped in white chocolate. No baking if you use leftover cake.
Breakfast Treats and Frozen Desserts
Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls
Fluffy rolls with a carrot, brown sugar and cinnamon swirl, finished with cream cheese icing.
Carrot Cake Donuts
Baked spiced carrot donuts dipped in cream cheese glaze. Easier than frying.
Carrot Cake Dessert Pizza
A big carrot cake cookie crust spread with frosting and topped with toasted nuts and coconut.
Carrot Cake Ice Cream with Cream Cheese Swirls
Spiced carrot ice cream rippled with cream cheese frosting and chunks of cake.
Carrot Cake Ice Cream Sandwiches
Vanilla or cream cheese ice cream squeezed between two soft carrot cake cookies.
Tips for Baking With Carrots
- Grate them finely. I use the small holes of a box grater. Fine shreds melt into the crumb; big shreds stay crunchy.
- Don't squeeze them. The carrot juice is what keeps carrot cake moist.
- Use oil for cakes. Oil-based carrot cakes stay soft for days, even straight from the fridge.
- Toast the nuts. Five minutes in a dry pan makes walnuts and pecans taste twice as nutty.
- Chill cream cheese desserts. Anything frosted with cream cheese should be refrigerated and eaten within 5 days.
More Dessert Collections
Looking for more ideas? Browse my banana desserts, pineapple desserts and easy desserts. For a cozy carrot dish of a different kind, try my simple carrot ginger soup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What desserts can you make with carrots?
Carrot cake is the classic, but carrots also work in bars, cheesecake, cookies, whoopie pies, cupcakes, cinnamon rolls, donuts, truffles and ice cream. In India, carrots are slow-cooked with milk, sugar and cardamom to make gajar ka halwa, a rich carrot pudding.
Why are carrots used in desserts?
Carrots are naturally sweet and full of moisture, so grated carrot keeps cakes and bars soft and tender. Their mild flavor pairs well with warm spices, nuts, raisins and cream cheese frosting.
Should you peel carrots for carrot cake?
Peeling is optional. Well-scrubbed carrots work fine, but peeling gives a brighter color and removes any bitter skin. I peel older, thick carrots and just scrub young ones.
Can I use pre-shredded carrots?
You can, but bagged shreds are thicker and drier, so they stay chewy in the crumb. For the best texture, grate fresh carrots finely, or chop bagged shreds smaller before using.
Do carrot cake desserts need to be refrigerated?
Anything with cream cheese frosting or filling should be refrigerated and eaten within 5 days. Unfrosted carrot cake, bars and cookies keep at room temperature, airtight, for 2 to 3 days.
