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Home » Recipes » Desserts

Instant Pot Carrot Cake

Published Mar 12, 2020 by Allyson · 16 Comments
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Instant Pot Carrot Cake is the most moist and delicious cake! This easy recipe is so quick and painless in the Instant Pot!

I've been seeing that you can make cake in the Instant Pot for a while, so I wanted to test it out with my favorite Carrot Cake. I had made a Peanut Butter Cheesecake in the Instant Pot and Instant Pot Lemon Cake previously, and they were GREAT!  I was so happy to find out that it works PERFECTLY, and is even more delicious than baking the cake! This Instant Pot Carrot Cake is easy, so moist, and totally amazing! It's going to be the only way I make carrot cake from now on!

Now, I used some shortcuts in this recipe, but you don't have to. I love using my favorite spice cake mix and then doctoring it up to make the perfect carrot cake. I recommend Duncan Hines Spice Cake Mix, but you can chose whichever brand you like.

I also love making a Carrot Cake Trifle (EASY) around Easter time, and this Instant Pot Carrot Cake would be perfect for a small Easter gathering as well!

How to make Instant Pot Carrot Cake:

**Scroll down for full printable ingredient list and directions**

  • Prep the ingredients: shred about 2 carrots, making 1 and ¼ cup shredded carrots.
  • Prepare the cake mix according to box directions however use orange juice for half the amount of water called for. For example, Duncan Hines cake mix says 1 cup water. This means use ½ cup water and ½ cup orange juice. 
  • Once the cake mix is prepared, add the shredded carrots, crushed pineapple, and raisins (if desired). 
  • Grease a nonstick 7 inch bundt pan then pour the batter into the pan until it's ¾ full. You may have some left over, just set it aside. You don't want to overfill the bundt pan. Cover loosely with aluminum foil.
  • Add 1 ½ cups of water to the instant pot. Place the bundt pan on a removable instant pot rack, then place carefully inside the Instant Pot. 
  • Set the instant pot on manual/high for 35 minutes. 
  • While the cake is cooking, make the frosting.
    • Add ½ cup room temperature butter to a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Add 1 package/8oz room temperature cream cheese and beat until smooth. Add vanilla and beat until mixed. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar, then mix. Add 1 more cup, then mix. Add final cup and mix until smooth and creamy. Set aside until ready to use. 
  • Once the timer is up for the cake, quick release the rest of the pressure. Open the instant pot and using potholders carefully put out the rack with bundt pan on top. Carefully remove the aluminum foil from the top (there may be some water on top, careful not to spill on the cake).
  • Carefully flip the bundt pan over to remove the cake. It should pop out easily. Place on cake stand.
  • Allow the cake to cool for about 30 minutes (can also set in the fridge). Once the cake is cooled, add the frosting in an even layer. Top with chopped pecans. Serve and enjoy! Keep cake in the fridge.

Tips for making Carrot Cake in the Instant Pot:

  • Use your favorite box cake brand with spice cake. I like Duncan Hines Super Moist Spice Cake Mix. 
    • Use ½ cup orange juice in place of the full amount of water. Alternatively, I have used juice from the crushed pineapple in place of the OJ and that works well too!
  • Do NOT overfill the nonstick 7 inch bundt pan or you will have a major mess on your hands.
  • Use a removable steam rack inside your Instant Pot. A removable steam rack has handles that allows you to pull the pan out on the rack, making it super easy to remove. I like this silicone removable steam rack. 
  • I have a 6qt. Instant Pot that I use, but you could also use the 8qt. Instant pot. I suggest the 8 quart instant pot if you have a bigger family.

My favorite Instant Pot Recipes:

  • Instant Pot Peanut Butter Cheesecake is a stunning dessert that comes together in no time! Not only is it amazingly easy, but it’s the best cheesecake EVER!
  • This Instant Pot Lemon Cake is the easiest and most delicious cake! Made in half the time and incredibly moist, you will never make cake another way!
  • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Lettuce wraps are the perfect healthy chicken recipe! Make the spicy chicken in just minutes, then load up fresh lettuce wraps with your favorite toppings!
  • Instant Pot Garlic Hummus has only a handful of ingredients! Save money and know exactly what’s in your food with this recipe!
  • Instant Pot Bang Bang Chicken comes together in minutes and is so delicious! The classic spicy sauce is perfect on shredded chicken which can be used in rice bowls, salads, wraps, or however you want!
  • Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup – Instant Pot Chicken Noodle soup is rich with flavor and takes only a fraction of the time to make. Warm up on a cold day with this major comfort food.
  • Instant Pot Salsa Rice is the perfect meal or side dish to your favorite Mexican inspired dinner! Filled with fresh vegetables and only 4 minutes in the Instant Pot and this rice is ready to eat!

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5 from 12 votes
Print
Instant Pot Carrot Cake
Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
35 mins
Total Time
45 mins
 

Instant Pot Carrot Cake is the most moist and delicious cake! This easy recipe is so quick and painless in the Instant Pot!

Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: instant pot carrot cake
Ingredients
For cake:
  • 1 box spice cake mix plus ingredients to prepare mix (eggs, oil, water)
  • ½ cup orange juice or pineapple juice from crushed pineapple
  • 1 ¼ cup shredded carrots
  • 2 ounces crushed pineapple drained
  • ½ cup raisins optional
  • ½ cup chopped pecans
For frosting
  • ½ cup butter room temperature
  • 8 ounces cream cheese room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Prepare the cake mix according to box directions however use orange juice or pineapple juice for half the amount of water called for. *For example, Duncan Hines cake mix says 1 cup water. This means use ½ cup water and ½ cup orange juice*

  2. Once the cake mix is prepared, add the shredded carrots, crushed pineapple, and raisins (if desired). 

  3. Grease a nonstick 7 inch bundt pan then pour the batter into the pan until it’s ¾ full (you may have some left over, just set it aside. You don’t want to overfill the bundt pan. Cover loosely with aluminum foil).

  4. Add water to the instant pot. Place the bundt pan on a removable instant pot rack, then place carefully inside the Instant Pot.  Set the instant pot on manual/high for 35 minutes. 

  5. While the cake is cooking, make the frosting: Add butter to a bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Add cream cheese, beat until smooth. Add vanilla, beat until mixed. Add 1 cup of powdered sugar, then mix. Add 1 more cup, then mix. Add final cup and mix until smooth and creamy. Set aside until ready to use. 

  6. Once the timer is up for the cake, quick release the rest of the pressure. Open the instant pot and using potholders carefully pull out the rack with bundt pan on top. Carefully remove the aluminum foil from the top (there may be some water on top, careful not to spill on the cake).

  7. Carefully flip the bundt pan over to remove the cake. It should pop out easily. Place on cake stand.

  8. Allow the cake to cool for about 30 minutes (can also set in the fridge).

  9. Once the cake is cooled, add the frosting in an even layer. Top with chopped pecans. Serve and enjoy! Keep cake in the fridge.

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Use your favorite box cake brand- I like Duncan Hines Super Moist Spice Cake Mix. 

Cake should keep for 7 days if refrigerated. 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amanda

    March 12, 2020 at 6:36 pm

    5 stars
    I love that this amazing cake is made in the instant pot!

    Reply
  2. Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert

    March 12, 2020 at 9:18 pm

    5 stars
    This Carrot Cake is seriously making me hungry!

    Reply
  3. Sara Welch

    March 12, 2020 at 11:40 pm

    5 stars
    What an incredible carrot cake recipe! Definitely making this for Easter, but excited to make it over the upcoming weekend, first! Looks delish!

    Reply
  4. katerina @ diethood.com

    March 13, 2020 at 12:11 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, what an amazing carrot cake!! I love that I can make it in my instant pot!!

    Reply
    • Allyson

      March 13, 2020 at 2:45 pm

      It makes it soooo easy!

      Reply
  5. Toni

    March 13, 2020 at 2:02 pm

    5 stars
    Such an amazing cake for Easter! I loved it!

    Reply
  6. Katie

    March 13, 2020 at 3:04 pm

    5 stars
    My family would love this! Can't wait to try it.

    Reply
  7. Katie

    March 13, 2020 at 3:05 pm

    5 stars
    This carrot cake is seriously amazing! We all LOVED it.

    Reply
  8. Tisha

    March 13, 2020 at 4:39 pm

    5 stars
    Love making cakes in the instant pot! SO easy and simple!

    Reply
  9. Natalie

    March 13, 2020 at 5:18 pm

    5 stars
    I can't believe this is made in the instant pot! Love it! SO moist & delicious! Excited to make this for Easter!

    Reply
  10. Catalina

    March 13, 2020 at 6:07 pm

    5 stars
    wow! To make a carrot cake in the Instant Pot! Yum!

    Reply
  11. katerina @ diethood.com

    March 23, 2020 at 4:14 pm

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, this carrot cake is amazing!! Perfect for Easter!

    Reply
  12. Carrie Robinson

    March 23, 2020 at 4:34 pm

    5 stars
    Such a clever idea to bake a cake in the instant pot! This carrot cake looks perfect. 🙂

    Reply
  13. K

    June 25, 2020 at 2:13 am

    Hello,
    How do you set by manual/high?
    What button you need to push?
    will you need to close the vent?
    Pressure high, low, normal?
    Cake?

    Can i use other bundt pan?
    Thx.

    Reply
    • Allyson

      June 25, 2020 at 6:19 am

      Hi- What Instant Pot do you have? On most posts there is a manual or high pressure button, that is the one you will use. You need to close the vent in order for the pot to come to pressure, so yes, seal the vent. You can use whatever bundt cake pan fits in your pot and is IP safe.

      Reply

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