Carrot cake can end up too moist if there is too much added oil, too much carrot, not enough baking soda or not baking the cake for long enough. To avoid your carrot cake becoming too moist measure the ingredients using kitchen scales, bake the cake until a skewer comes out of the middle clean.
Top 6 reasons why carrot cake becomes too moist
Check out the top reasons why carrot cake becomes too moist and what you can do to avoid each one.
1. Too much oil
Adding too much oil to your carrot cake is the top reason why it can end up too moist. This is most likely to happen when you measure out the oil in cups rather than grams.
For the best results look out for a recipe that gives the amount of oil in grams. That way you can measure it out on a kitchen scale for an accurate result. You can even measure the oil straight into the mixing bowl you are using for wet ingredients to avoid mess.
2. Too much carrot
Adding too much carrot to your carrot cake will make it too moist. Adding carrots by number instead of weight can make it easy to add too much. Carrots vary in size and if you add large instead of small ones you can easily add too much.
The amount of carrot you add can vary depending on how finely you grate the carrot and how much you pack it down in the cup measure.
The best way to add an accurate amount of carrot is to weigh them on a kitchen scale. This will mean that the amount of carrot won’t vary.
You can also make your carrot cake less moist by removing the excess moisture from the carrot. Simply grab a handful and squeeze it over the sink. You can also pop it in a clean tea-towel and squeeze out the extra liquid.
For more, check out my article here on how much carrot is best for carrot cake: How to fix too much carrot in carrot cake? | 5 Easy ways.
3. Not enough baking soda
Not adding enough baking soda can make your carrot cake turn out dense and overly moist. The right amount of baking soda is needed to make sure the cake rises and becomes lighter.
An easy way to measure out the correct amount of baking soda is to use a measuring spoon. These come in 1/4, 1/2 or whole teaspoons and will make it easier to measure out the right amount.
Measuring spoons are made flat so you can scrape off the excess baking soda on the top to avoid adding too much.
Check out this easy carrot cake recipe.
4. Not baking the carrot cake for long enough
Carrot cake that has not baked in the oven for long enough will become dense and moist in the middle. Making sure the carrot cake is fully cooked through is essential for the best results.
Make sure you preheat the oven before putting the carrot cake in. Test the cake 10 minutes before recommended cooking time. Use a butter knife or skewer to poke into the center of the cake to see if it is done. When the cake is done the skewer will come out clean.
If it still has cake batter on it then pop the cake back in the oven for another 5 minutes and test again. Repeat this process until it has cooked through.
5. The eggs are too big
Adding too much egg to your carrot cake will cause it to become too moist. Eggs vary in size from 45-70grams or more. This means that adding extra large eggs will add more moisture to the recipe than the smallest ones.
For the most consistent results i like to use regular size eggs. This is somewhere between 50-60g. Avoid using extra large eggs in your recipe otherwise it can become too wet.
6. Using a pan that is too deep
Using a deep cake tin or loaf pan can mean that the carrot cake will take longer to cook. If it is not fully cooked through then it will end up moist and stodgy in the center.
The size of your baking tin will affect how your carrot cake turns out. A flat cake tin will generally need a shorter cooking time than a deep loaf pan. If you have separated out you cake mix into 2 tins it will also cook much faster than a full batch.
Adjust the cooking time depending on the size of your baking pan. Remember to cook the cake all the way through. Test it with a skewer to make sure it is done before taking it out of the oven.
Why is my carrot cake too moist? | Summary
Carrot cake can become too moist if there is too much oil, too much egg, not enough baking soda or not baking the cake all the way through. To get the best result and avoid it becoming too moist, measure the ingredients with kitchen scales so you get the exact right amount.
I am an accredited practicing dietitian, experienced gardener and a dedicated cook. I love writing and sharing my experience so you can learn from my successes and mistakes.