Jamie Oliver Carrot Cake Recipe

So here’s the thing about carrot cake—this Jamie Oliver carrot cake in particular. It’s not dainty. It’s not fussy. It’s a bit wild, a little rustic. Moist? Yes, absolutely soaked with flavor. It’s like biting into something your grandma would’ve made, if she had a thing for ginger and orange zest and knew just how far to take the sweetness before it got annoying.

I baked this on a gray Sunday, more out of boredom than need. And something about the smell of cinnamon and citrus drifting through the flat made it feel like someone turned the lights on. (inspired by Jamie Oliver)

Ingredients Needed

For the cake:

• About a tablespoon of unsalted butter, for greasing
• A good 225 grams of gluten-free self-raising flour (that’s about 1 3/4 cups, more or less), plus a bit extra for dusting
• 2 large eggs, free-range if you can
• 125 grams of soft brown sugar — a heaping half-cup and then some
• 125 ml of sunflower oil — basically half a cup
• 1 and a half teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• One eating apple, any crisp kind
• 200 grams grated carrot (nearly 2 cups)
• Zest and juice of an orange
• A small handful of sultanas
• Half a cup of chopped walnuts — optional, but why not?

For the icing:

• Another handful of walnuts, crushed
• 75 grams of soft butter, which is roughly a third of a cup
• 100 grams icing sugar — 3/4 cup plus a couple spoons more
• Zest of an orange
• 75 grams cream cheese (a solid scoop, about 1/3 cup)

How To Make Jamie Oliver Carrot Cake Recipe

1. Turn your oven to 190 Celsius. Or 375 Fahrenheit. Whatever language you speak in the kitchen. Grease up a springform tin — I used a 20cm one — line the bottom with baking paper, flour the sides just to be safe.
2. Crack the eggs into a big bowl. Beat them like you mean it. Add sugar, pour in the oil, stir until it looks glossy and slightly odd.
3. Sift in the flour and spices. Gently fold it through. You’ll know when it feels right — not too loose, not dry.
4. Now the good part. Grate the apple (yep, core and all) and the carrots until your arms ache a little. That’s when you stop. Chuck them in, along with orange zest, juice, sultanas, and maybe those walnuts.
5. Pour it into the tin, scrape every last bit, and get it into the oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes. You’ll smell it when it’s ready. Golden top. Skewer comes out clean-ish. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then flip it out and let it breathe on a rack.
6. While it cools, make the icing. Beat the butter, sugar, and orange zest until it looks dreamy. Creamy and pale. Fold in the cream cheese, but go easy. It should still hold some shape.
7. Spread it thick over the cooled cake. Scatter crushed walnuts. Grate a bit more zest if you’re feeling theatrical.

Why I Love This Recipe

It’s not just cake. It’s the kind of thing you make when the world feels loud and you need to get your hands on something quiet. I made it for no one in particular, and somehow it was gone by Monday. That sharp orange against the warm spice — it hits a nerve. In a good way.

Recipe Tips

• Use a tart apple: Granny Smith is the move.
• Skip the nuts: Sure. Or use seeds if you want crunch without allergy drama.
• Don’t ice: it warm unless you want a slippery mess.
• Sultanas, raisins, cranberries: it’s all the same when soaked in spice.
• Out of sunflower oil: Neutral veg oil will do just fine.

How To Store This Jamie Oliver Carrot Cake

• Room temp: Only if it’s cool in your kitchen. And don’t ice it first.
• Fridge: Yep, in a sealed box, it’ll last 4 to 5 days. I promise it won’t last that long.
• Freezer: Sure. Wrap tight. Foil, cling film, the works. Thaws overnight. Still good.
• Warm it gently in the microwave if you like that just-baked feel. Skip the icing first though.

Let’s Answer a Few Questions!

Can I just use regular flour?
Of course. If gluten doesn’t bother you, go ahead.

What apple works best?
Something crisp. Something tart. Granny Smith nails it.

Can I make two?
Yes. Just double it all and use a bigger tin — or two. Keep an eye while it bakes.

Do I have to use the orange?
Nope. But you’ll miss it when it’s not there.

Try More Recipe:

• Jamie Oliver Upside Down Plum Cake
• Jamie Oliver Flourless Chocolate Cake
• Jamie Oliver Chocolate Fridge Cake