A slice of Carrot Cake with Pineapple Filling and cream cheese frosting on a white plate with a metal fork next to a white towel and the pan of cake in the background on a wooden surface (with logo overlay)

Carrot Cake with Pineapple Filling

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Try this delicious recipe for carrot cake with a pineapple filling and cream cheese frosting. The pineapple adds flavor and character.

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This carrot cake recipe comes from my Aunt Shawn. I actually had to call her the first time I made it because I wasn’t sure what size pan to use and she gave me a few good tips. Most importantly, the cake will look like it is getting really dark on top. But it is supposed to. Her original recipe said to bake for 30 minutes, but I had to leave it in for an hour. The cake is done when it doesn’t wiggle in the middle. I just grabbed one of the edges of the pan and shook it slightly to test for a wiggly cake. Don’t worry, even with cooking it this long, the cake was still very moist in the middle.

Everyone at the office we worked at always requested Aunt Shawn’s carrot cake for their birthdays. Almost every month she was baking one of these cakes for an office birthday. It doesn’t take too long to prep and has delicious results. Before I made it, I never tried it. I know, so bad, I always get on to the boys that they have to at least try something before they say they don’t like it. But all those months and years of her making it, I never tried it. I don’t like coconut and knew that was part of the cake. So this time, I decided to try it. And wow, I am so glad I did, it’s amazing! You don’t really taste the coconut flavor too much. And I love pineapple so when you bite into a chunk of pineapple it makes it that much better.

I didn’t realize until recently that pineapple is not a typical ingredient in a carrot cake. I had never made carrot cake or eaten it. So I just figured this is how it is made. Now that I’ve had it with pineapple, I don’t know that I could eat it without the pineapple. The pineapple also really helps to keep the cake moist as it is baking. And of course, you can never go wrong with cream cheese frosting! Carrots in the cake make it seem like I am eating something good for me too when I am really eating cake. At least I am getting some of my veggies through the cake, which automatically means it is healthy, right?!

Carrot Cake Step by Step

Ingredients

Cake

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 20 oz pineapple (crushed)
  • 2 cups carrots (grated)
  • 4 oz flaked coconut (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped, optional)
Ingredients for carrot cake in stainless steel bowls on a white wooden surface

Frosting

  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 stick butter (softened)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting ingredients in stainless steel bowls on a white wooden surface

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 350F. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the flour with the baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and sugar.

Dry carrot cake ingredients in a stainless steel bowl on a white wooden surface

Beat in the oil and the eggs until well combined.

Cake dry ingredients with oil in a stainless steel bowl on a white wooden surface

Add the pineapple, carrots, and coconut. Then mix until everything is thoroughly distributed.

Carrot cake batter in a stainless steel bowl on a white wooden surface

Pour the cake batter into a 9×13 glass baking dish and bake for 60 minutes.

Carrot cake batter in a baking dish on a white wooden surface

Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, whisk the frosting ingredients together until creamy and smooth.

Once the cake has completely cooled, frost. Garnish with more coconut, chopped nuts, and shredded carrots if desired. Store in the refrigerator and serve cold.

A slice of Carrot Cake with Pineapple Filling and cream cheese frosting on a white plate with a metal fork next to a white towel and the pan of cake in the background on a wooden surface (vertical)

Recipe

Originally Published On: April 10, 2019

Last Updated On: March 11, 2020

A slice of Carrot Cake with Pineapple Filling and cream cheese frosting on a white plate with a metal fork next to a white towel and the pan of cake in the background on a wooden surface

Carrot Cake with Pineapple Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting

Try this delicious recipe for carrot cake with a pineapple filling and cream cheese frosting. The pineapple adds flavor and character.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Cooling Time 45 minutes
Total Time 2 hours
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
American
Keyword:
cake
|
carrots
|
cream cheese
|
holidays
|
pineapple
Servings: 15 pieces
5 from 8 votes

Ingredients

Cake
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/2 cups oil
  • 4 eggs
  • 20 oz pineapple (crushed)
  • 2 cups carrots (grated)
  • 4 oz flaked coconut (1 1/2 cups)
  • 1/2 cup walnuts (chopped, optional)
Frosting
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 stick butter (softened)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Recommended Equipment

Instructions

Cake
  • Preheat oven to 350F
  • In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour with baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and sugar
  • Beat in the oil and eggs
  • Add the pineapple, carrots, coconut, and walnuts and blend until mixed
  • Pour in a 9×13 baking pan and bake for 60 minutes
  • The cake will get very dark on top, but you need to make sure it doesn’t wiggle at all in the middle
Frosting
  • Combine cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer
  • Slowly add the powdered sugar and vanilla and stir until smooth
  • Spread the frosting over the entire cake once it's cooled
  • Store the cake in the refrigerator and serve cold
  • Garnish with chopped nuts, extra coconut, or shredded carrot as desired
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Nutrition Facts
Carrot Cake with Pineapple Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting
Amount Per Serving (1 piece)
Calories 706 Calories from Fat 378
% Daily Value*
Fat 42g65%
Saturated Fat 13g65%
Trans Fat 1g
Cholesterol 76mg25%
Sodium 245mg10%
Potassium 268mg8%
Carbohydrates 80g27%
Fiber 3g12%
Sugar 62g69%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 3329IU67%
Vitamin C 19mg23%
Calcium 68mg7%
Iron 2mg11%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.

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36 thoughts on “Carrot Cake with Pineapple Filling”

  4. Daisy

    This recipe sounds absolutely delicious!! Carrot cake is my all time favorite dessert and as a kid I always asked for it instead of birthday cake! 🙂

    Reply
  15. Jessie

    This looks so good! I haven’t had carrot cake in such a long time. Everyone in my house loves carrot cake, Maybe I’ll surprise them with this.

    Reply
  16. Elaine

    As much as I love carrot cake, I’ve never tried making it myself. The addition of pineapple is such a good one! I can definitely see how it would aid in keeping the cake super moist and delicious.

    Reply
  18. David Elliott

    5 stars
    This honestly sounds so heavenly. I wouldn’t have thought of mixing the pineapple with the carrot cake but just the thought is making my mouth water. I wish my daughter would appreciate carrot cake. But maybe I can stick this in and she might like it.

    Reply
    1. Stephanie Lynch

      My boys had no clue they were eating carrot cake until I told them. Even then, they still asked for more! I think the cream cheese frosting and pineapple hide the carrot pretty well for them.

      Reply

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