Sourdough Carrot Cake

A classic for a reason, homemade carrot cake whips up easily with pantry staples. Adding sourdough gives a subtle tang and a tender, moist texture, which works happily with the fun pops of pecan pieces and the soft chew of grated carrot. Let the cake cool on a wire rack while you mix up a rich, fluffy cream cheese frosting. 

Now, while we love homemade vanilla buttercream (especially spread between these sourdough oatmeal cream pies!), the blend of cream cheese and butter in this zesty frosting delivers cozy, savory hints that leave this cake irresistible.

Maintaining a sourdough starter leaves you with extra sourdough starter called discard, a fully fermented byproduct that works well in loads of recipes. Aside from this sourdough carrot cake, some of our other favorite sourdough discard recipes are granola bars, monster cookies, easy sourdough pancakes, hamburger buns, and soft pretzels. For more ideas, scroll through these lists of 15+ healthy sourdough recipes, 20+ discard breakfast recipes, and 20+ discard desserts. 

Why You’ll Love This Recipe   

Delicious dessert – Made with sourdough starter, brown sugar, crunchy pecans, fresh carrots, and warm spices, this moist carrot cake is spiced just right and smothered with thick cream cheese frosting.

Simple classic – This sourdough carrot cake recipe utilizes simple ingredients and sourdough starter for a well-loved, easy-to-make classic.

Long-ferment optional – If you prefer a long-fermented batter for easier digestion and more bioavailable nutrients, start by mixing the oil, sourdough starter, and flour. Once combined, cover the bowl and let it rest at room temperature overnight. This time allows the natural yeast and bacteria to break down carbohydrates and proteins in the batter. Not only is it easier to digest, but the sourdough enhances the flavor the longer it ferments.

Ingredients

Carrots – I used three large carrots, peeled and freshly grated.

Pecans – Chopped pecans keep the texture more uniform and sliceable. Toasting the pecans adds more flavor and better crunch than keeping them raw.

Sourdough starter – Either an active starter or discard works fine. Active provides a milder flavor, and discard tastes more deeply sour. Are you new to sourdough? Get started by learning how to make your own sourdough starter, how to maintain and feed it, and how to use it.

Vanilla extract – I love to make my own vanilla extract because it’s both economical and super flavorful.

A full ingredient list with exact amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

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Tools You May Need

Stand mixer – Not required, but it makes mixing the batter super easy.

Box grater – A box grater or food processor shreds the carrots small enough to suit the cake. Pre-shredded carrots from the store are too thick.

Recipe Modifications and Variations

• Swap out the pecans for chopped walnuts, pistachios, or sliced almonds.
• Add orange or lemon zest for a brighter take. 
• Add raisins, dried cranberries, or coconut flakes.
• Make a one layer cake using a 9×13 baking dish instead of two round cake pans. Adjust bake time to 40 to 50 minutes. 
• Turn it into a trifle. Break up the cake and place it into a trifle dish, layering the cake with frosting. 
• Make sourdough carrot cake cupcakes using lined muffin tins and bake for 18 to 22 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

How to Make Sourdough Carrot Cake

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease two 9 inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper. Grate carrots and chop pecans. For easy grating, I suggest using a food processor with a grating attachment. A box grater works well, too.

Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, white sugar, brown sugar, sourdough starter, and vanilla.

Step 3: In a separate bowl, stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. 

Step 4: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just incorporated. Fold in the carrots and pecans.

Step 5: Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If using a 9×13 baking dish, adjust time to 40 to 50 minutes.

Step 6: Allow the cake to cool while you prepare the frosting.

Step 7: Add softened cream cheese and butter to a stand mixer bowl. Whip for a few minutes until creamy and smooth. Adjust the speed to low and slowly add in confectioners’ sugar and vanilla. Increase the speed to medium-high and whip until fluffy. Fold in pecans or other mix-ins of choice.

Step 8: Frost the cake generously once it is fully cooled.

Long Fermented Sourdough Carrot Cake

Step 1: The day before baking, add oil, sourdough starter, and flour to a mixing bowl. Stir to combine. Cover and allow to ferment for 8 to 12 hours at room temperature.

Step 2: The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease two 9 inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper. Grate carrots and chop pecans. 

Step 3: Whisk eggs, white sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla. Stir into the fermented batter.

Step 4: Sprinkle the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon over the batter and mix well.

Step 5: Fold in grated carrots and chopped pecans.

Step 6: Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 25 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. If using a 9×13 baking dish, bake 40 to 50 minutes.

Step 7: Allow to cool completely while preparing the frosting. Frost the cake once fully cooled.

Tips

• This cake can be made quickly or long fermented for more health benefits.
• Grate carrots by hand for a better texture and flavor. Pre-shredded carrots from the store are too thick and dry to bake nicely in a cake.
• Stir the batter gently, just until combined. You don’t want to overmix.
• Active sourdough starter or sourdough discard works for this recipe, since the sourdough isn’t used for rising, but rather for flavor and fermentation.
• Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting, or the frosting will melt.
• Ensure the baking powder and baking soda are fresh. If they have been sitting in the back of the cabinet for a while and are past their prime, then the cake won’t rise properly.

Recipe FAQs

More Delicious Cake Recipes from the Farmhouse

• Delicious Sourdough Chocolate Cake
• The Best Sourdough Coffee Cake
• Sourdough Vanilla Cake
• Gingerbread Cake 
• Lemon Sourdough Pound Cake

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love it if you could come back and give it 5 stars! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.