
A remarkable fusion of garden-fresh carrots, flavorful seasonings, and diced candied ginger forms the foundation of Bobby Flay's standout carrot cake, topped with a groundbreaking marshmallow-cream cheese icing. This fancy spin on a beloved dessert mixes standard components with upscale additions like newly shredded ginger and dark muscovado sugar, delivering complex taste layers in every mouthful.
I've baked this cake several times now, and I've noticed the mix of fresh and candied ginger gives it an amazing flavor depth you just won't find in regular carrot cakes.
Key Ingredients Breakdown
- Fresh carrots: Shred using the tiny holes for the best consistency.
- Fresh ginger: Adds zippy, hot notes throughout.
- Candied ginger chunks: Creates unexpected flavor bursts.
- Full-fat cream cheese: Guarantees a dreamy topping.
- Dark muscovado sugar: Brings deep, molasses-like sweetness.
Crafting Your Showstopper
- Frosting Creation:
- Beat until airy and smooth.
- Temperature Watch:
- Keep an eye on your sugar mixture for perfect marshmallow.
- Gentle Folding:
- Mix add-ins with care.
- Spice Blending:
- Combine dry components for balanced flavor.
- Wet Mixture:
- Mix eggs, oil, and butter till completely blended.
- Pineapple Processing:
- Mince finely and squeeze out extra liquid.
- Carrot Preparation:
- Use fine grater for ideal texture.
- Layer Assembly:
- Build and frost carefully.

What really makes this cake stand out is how the fresh and candied ginger work together. From my many attempts making it, I've learned that taking your time with the marshmallow part leads to an incredibly silky topping.
Stunning Serving Options
Show off this knockout dessert on a tall cake stand decorated with sweet carrot curls and bits of candied ginger. For fancy events, make it extra impressive by placing toasted pecan halves in a circular pattern on top. Pair each slice with a small scoop of freshly whipped cream and sprinkle with a touch of cinnamon.
Tasty Twists
Give this dessert a new spin by adding crunchy toasted coconut between each layer for a tropical touch. Play around with different nuts - maybe try toasted macadamias or green pistachios for something unexpected. You could even whip up a spicy caramel sauce with fresh ginger to highlight the cake's signature flavor.
Keeping It Fresh
Keep your cake tasting great by putting it in the fridge under a cake cover for up to five days. The special marshmallow-cream cheese topping stays fantastic, and it actually tastes better after a day or two. If you need to store it longer, wrap the unfrosted cake parts tightly and stick them in the freezer for up to three months.
Serving Temperature Advice
This cake tastes way better when it's not cold. Take it out of your fridge about half an hour before you want to eat it so the frosting gets a bit softer and you can really taste all those spices.
Making Bobby Flay's Carrot Cake has shown me that little details really matter when upgrading a classic recipe. Mixing old-school elements with new ideas like that marshmallow-cream cheese frosting creates something truly amazing. Whether you're making it for a fancy dinner party or just a special family dessert, this cake shows that putting a new spin on an old favorite can turn out even better than the original.

Recipe FAQs
- → Why use three kinds of ginger?
- Fresh ginger gives bite, ground ginger adds warmth, and crystallized ginger brings spicy sweetness.
- → What if I don’t like marshmallow?
- Swap it out with regular cream cheese frosting for a simpler take.
- → How does the cake stay so soft?
- It’s the magic combo of oil, carrots, crushed pineapple, and butter working together.
- → Can I prepare the layers early?
- Sure, you can bake the layers a day ahead. Just wrap them tight and keep them on the counter.
- → What’s muscovado sugar?
- It’s raw brown sugar with molasses flavor. You can use dark brown sugar instead if needed.
Famous Carrot Dessert
Super moist carrot cake loaded with fresh carrots, pineapple, and three gingers. Topped with fluffy cream cheese marshmallow frosting.
Ingredients
→ Cake
→ Marshmallow Fluff
→ Cream Cheese Frosting
Steps
Get your oven to 350°F. Line your 8-inch round pans with parchment, greasing and flouring them first.
Blend pineapple until fine. Whisk eggs, then mix in carrot shreds, oil, melted butter, vanilla, pineapple, and the fresh grated ginger.
In a clean bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, sugars, and all the spices. Add this to the wet mix, gently stirring until just mixed.
Toss in the chopped pecans and candied ginger. Evenly pour the batter into the prepped pans.
Pop them in the oven for 40-55 minutes until they’re done and golden. Let them rest 15 minutes in the pans before fully cooling on a rack.
Notes
- Grated carrots straight from fresh ones work best.
- Room-temp ingredients blend more smoothly.
- Mixing too much can ruin the texture—don’t do it!
Required Tools
- Two 8-inch round pans for baking
- Box grater for carrots
- Food processor for pineapple
- Stand mixer or hand mixer
Allergy Information
Check each ingredient for potential allergens and consult a healthcare professional if needed.
- Includes dairy products
- Eggs are in here
- Pecans (a tree nut) are used
- Made with flour containing gluten
Nutritional Facts (per serving)
These details are provided for informational purposes and aren't a substitute for medical advice.
- Calories: 485
- Fats: 24.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 65.5 g
- Proteins: 6.8 g