In this recipe
- Why this recipe is great
- What You Need to Freeze a Frosted or Unfrosted Cake
- First Method: How to Freeze Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Defrost It
- Second Method: How to Freeze the Unfrosted Cake or Cake Layers (+ How to Defrost Them)
- Easy Carrot Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting
- More Must-Try Cakes and Snacks
- Frequently Asked Questions
Estimated reading time: 13 minutes
Why this recipe is great
Got a carrot cake you want to freeze? We’ll show you two super easy ways to do it. Use the first method if your cake is already frosted. The second method is perfect if it’s unfrosted — or if you’ve just baked the layers and want to save them for later.
Freezing the layers ahead of time makes it easy to put the cake together later. Just defrost and frost — it only takes a few minutes! Great for birthdays or when you need a quick treat for a party.
Our step-by-step guide will help you keep your cake fresh and tasty. You’ll learn how to thaw it the right way, keep it from getting squished, and avoid freezer burn or weird fridge smells.
Works like a charm — just like freshly baked!
What You Need to Freeze a Frosted or Unfrosted Cake
So, you’ve made an amazing carrot cake. Now you want to freeze it — maybe it’s already frosted with cream cheese frosting, or maybe it’s not. Either way, you want it to stay fresh, soft, and moist.
Maybe you’re short on time later or have guests coming over. Or maybe you just baked the cake layers and want to save them for another day.
The good news? Freezing carrot cake is super easy. Frosted or not, it still tastes great after. Here’s everything you need to freeze it the right way — and enjoy it whenever you want!
In a hurry? Skip ahead to the method you need — whether you’re freezing a frosted cake or just the unfrosted cake or layers.
Equipment:
- Airtight container
- Freezer bags
- Flat cutting board
- Plastic wrap
Ingredients:
- Carrot cake
Let us show you two easy ways to freeze, save your cake, and defrost it. Choose your favorite method and follow our step-by-step instructions below.
First Method: How to Freeze Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Defrost It
So, you are a big fan of carrot cake. And you’ve made a big carrot cake and realized you can’t finish it in three days. What do you do with leftover cake? Of course freeze it!
Important Tip for the Best Taste After Defrosting: Try to freeze your cake on the first or second day after baking. Don’t wait too long — if it’s not fresh when you freeze it, it won’t taste great when you thaw it. You can freeze the whole cake, half of it, or even just a few slices.
How to Freeze
Step 1: Before you wrap and freeze a slice or the whole cake, there’s a little prep to do. It’s best to cut the cake into slices — that way, you can just defrost the servings you need later. If you’re using a few containers, cut the cake so it fits. Place the slices (or whole cake) into a container and pop it in the freezer for about an hour. This helps the cake hold its shape, so it won’t get squished later on.
Step 2: Take the cake or slices out of the freezer. Wrap each one in several layers of plastic wrap, then place them back into an airtight container. This helps protect the cake from air and prevents freezer burn. If you have a freezer-safe container, that’s ideal — but a regular airtight one works too.
Step 3: Label the container with the date and place your cake in the freezer. If it’s frosted with cream cheese, it will stay fresh for up to a month.
That’s it!
How to Defrost
When you’re ready to eat the cake, or on special occasions, you can easily defrost it.
Step 1: Move the frozen cake from the freezer to the fridge. Let it defrost for 5–8 hours, or overnight. Keep the cake in its container, with the plastic wrap on and the lid closed. This helps the cake stay moist and prevents it from picking up any fridge smells.
Important Tip: Don’t defrost carrot cake with cream cheese frosting on the counter — always do it in the fridge.
Cream cheese can go bad if it gets too warm, and no one wants that. Keeping it in the fridge keeps the cake safe and the frosting nice and smooth.
Step 2: Once the cake is fully defrosted, take off the plastic wrap.
Step 3 (Optional): After defrosting, the cream cheese frosting might separate a little or show some lines — that’s totally normal. You can easily cover it up by sprinkling some carrot cake crumbs on top and around the sides. Just save a bit when you bake the cake. We show you how to make crumbs in our carrot cake recipe. Even if you don’t cover it with crumbs and it doesn’t look perfect, it’ll still taste just as good!
Tips You’ll Want to Know
Now you know how to freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! It’ll still taste amazing and look just as good — as long as you keep a few simple tips in mind:
- Freeze carrot cake with cream cheese frosting within the first two days to keep it fresh.
- Don’t freeze the cake after it’s been in the fridge for 3-4 days. It won’t taste as good and might be unsafe to eat.
- Never refreeze a cake that you’ve already thawed.
- Freeze the whole cake or just slices — whatever works best for you. It’s super convenient, because you can just defrost one or two servings whenever you want a treat!
- It’s best to eat thawed cake within a day or two, so freezing it in slices can really help. Just thaw the number of servings you plan to eat!
- Before wrapping, place the cake or slices in the freezer for about an hour. Don’t wrap them yet — letting them firm up first helps the cake hold its shape. That way, it won’t get squished when you wrap it later.
- Once the cake has firmed up a bit in the freezer, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Then place it in an airtight container to keep it fresh and protect it from freezer smells or moisture.
- Keep the cake away from foods with strong smells, like onions or garlic. Cake can absorb those odors in the freezer, and no one wants a garlicky slice of carrot cake!
- To defrost the cake, just pop it in the fridge overnight — and leave it wrapped. That way, it stays nice and moist and won’t soak up any weird fridge smells.
Second Method: How to Freeze the Unfrosted Cake or Cake Layers (+ How to Defrost Them)
You can also freeze carrot cake without the frosting.
Or bake the cake layers ahead of time and freeze them for later. Unfrosted cake or layers actually last longer in the freezer than a fully frosted cake. This is a great option if you’re prepping for a birthday or any special occasion — just frost it when you’re ready to serve!
How to Freeze
Step 1: Bake your carrot cake or cake layers, then let them cool completely at room temperature. Check out our video on the recipe and method for baking carrot cake layers. Freeze unfrosted cake or cake layers on the first or second day — they’ll taste best after you thaw them.
Step 2: For cake without frosting:
You can cut it into slices or leave it whole — either way, just make sure it fits into the container you’ll use for freezing. Put it in the container and place it in the freezer for about an hour. This helps the cake hold its shape when you wrap it later.
For carrot cake layers:
No need to freeze them first — the layers are firm enough on their own and will hold their shape without prefreezing.
Step 3: For unfrosted cake:
Take the cake out of the freezer after it’s been in there for about an hour. Wrap it tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap. Then place it into an airtight container or a freezer bag.
For carrot cake layers:
No need to pre-freeze them. Just let the layers cool completely, then wrap each one tightly in several layers of plastic wrap. Place the wrapped layers in a freezer bag.
Tip:
If you’re using a freezer bag, lay the cake or layers flat in the freezer — this keeps them from getting squished. A flat surface, like a cutting board, works perfectly. If they freeze unevenly, they might not look as nice when you frost or serve them later.
Step 4: Don’t forget to add a label with the date. You can keep unfrosted cake or cake layers in the freezer for up to two months.
How to Defrost
Step 1: To defrost cake or layers, let them thaw in the fridge or at room temperature.
In the fridge, they’ll defrost in about 2–3 hours.
At room temperature, it takes about an hour — maybe a bit more.
Keep both the cake and layers wrapped while they thaw. If you see any condensation, just gently pat it dry with a paper towel before frosting.
Step 2: Once the cake or layers are thawed, remove the plastic wrap. The unfrosted carrot cake will be fresh, soft, and delicious.
Step 3 (Optional): If you want to frost the cake or layers,
make your favorite frosting and spread it between the layers. Use the rest to cover the top and sides of the cake.
Need a quick go-to? Check out our recipe for the fastest sweet cream cheese frosting.
If you bake your carrot cake layers in advance, you can have a homemade carrot cake ready in just 15 minutes — how perfect is that?
Sure, you’ll need a little time to prep the cake before freezing. But once that’s done, putting it together later takes just minutes!
Helpful Tips to Make It Easier
This simple method works with any carrot cake recipe — whether it’s cupcakes, a loaf, or a single-layer cake.
It’s especially great for freezing cakes without frosting or just the baked layers.
Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Before you freeze anything, let your cake cool down. Whether it’s cupcakes, cake layers, or a whole cake without frosting — make sure it’s completely cool. If it’s still warm, it won’t freeze right.
- Wrap your cake in a few layers of plastic wrap — especially the cake layers. You can also put them in a freezer bag to help keep them fresh.
- If you’re freezing carrot cake or layers without a container, place them on something flat in the freezer — like a cutting board.
This helps them keep their shape. If they freeze unevenly, they’ll be harder to frost later — and even if you’re not frosting, they just won’t look as nice. - Once frozen, you can place parchment paper between the layers and keep them in the freezer. You can leave muffins in silicone molds and wrap them in plastic.
- You can also freeze carrot cake crumbs and use them later to decorate the cake.
- When you move unfrosted cake or cake layers from the freezer to the fridge to defrost, keep in mind that thinner cakes thaw faster.
Thinner cakes usually take about 2 hours in the fridge or 1 hour at room temperature.
Thicker cakes may need around 3 hours in the fridge or 2 hours at room temperature.
Easy Carrot Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Frosting
Need a classic carrot cake recipe? In our previous blog post, we shared a simple, four-layer carrot cake topped with rich cream cheese frosting. The best part? It’s made with basic ingredients you probably already have: grated carrots, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and eggs — all easy to find at any grocery store. No fancy equipment required either — not even a stand mixer or food processor. All you need is a box grater to finely shred the carrots, and you’re good to go!
This moist carrot cake has incredible flavor thanks to the perfect amount of spices. Use ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and the zest of one orange. To make the taste extra rich, be sure to use a neutral oil that doesn’t overpower the taste. We don’t recommend melted coconut oil or olive oil, as their flavors are too strong.
Use baking soda and baking powder to make the perfect cake—moist and soft. Both ingredients are necessary. Because after you mix the dry ingredients and wet ingredients in a large bowl, the batter is quite thick.
You can also use different baking forms to bake your favorite type of cake using our recipe. Go for carrot cake cupcakes, easy carrot cake loaf, or a single-layer carrot cake. Just check our recommendations because bake time may vary.
More Must-Try Cakes and Snacks
The best cake you can make is the one with simple ingredients. Try our apple cake recipe. It’s apples with a little bit of batter—juicy, soft, and covered with a crunchy butter-sugar layer. What about croissant snacks with cookie dough? But without waiting for the croissant dough to rise. Our crookies are a delicious combination of croissants and cookie dough. They’re gooey inside, extra crunchy on top, and super simple. Just use a few ready-made croissants to make them.
How to Freeze Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting — or Without + Easy Defrost Tips
Equipment
- Airtight container
- Freezer bags
- Flat cutting board (for freezing cake layers flat)
- Plastic wrap
Ingredients
- Carrot cake
Instructions
- Want to freeze carrot cake? There are two ways — frosted or not.
- First Method: If your carrot cake is already covered with cream cheese frosting, you can freeze it for up to 1 month. This method is ideal if you want to save leftovers.
- Second Method: This method is perfect if you want to freeze an unfrosted cake or cake layers you baked ahead of time. It works for any variation of carrot cake. You can store unfrosted cakes or layers in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you're ready to serve, just defrost and frost with cream cheese frosting.
First Method – Freezing Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Freeze the cake on the first or second day after baking for the best results. Check out our best carrot cake recipe or use your favorite recipe.
- Put the whole cake, slices, or whatever pieces you want to freeze into a container. If you’re using small containers, just cut the cake to fit. Pop it in the freezer for about an hour so it sets before you wrap it up.
- Take the cake out of the freezer. Wrap it tightly in a few layers of plastic wrap, then put it back into the airtight container. Make sure the lid is on nice and snug. Add a label with the date so you know how long it’s been in the freezer.
- Put the cake in the freezer and store it in the freezer for up to 1 month.
How to Defrost Frozen Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Move the frozen cake from the freezer to the fridge. Leave the plastic wrap on and keep the container closed.*
- Let the cake defrost in the fridge for 5–8 hours, or overnight for best results. Once it’s fully thawed, take off the plastic wrap. Don’t defrost carrot cake with cream cheese frosting at room temperature.The frosting can spoil or become too soft. Always defrost it in the fridge to keep it safe and tasty.
- Optional: Sometimes the cream cheese frosting might separate a little after freezing. To cover any cracks or lines, just sprinkle some carrot cake crumbs on top and around the sides. You can save a bit of crumb when you bake the cake. Check out our carrot cake recipe to see how we do it — but you can totally do this with your own recipe too!
Second Method – How to Freeze Carrot Cake Without Frosting (or Just the Cake Layers)
- If you just baked the cake or the layers, don’t frost them yet. Let them cool completely at room temperature first. If your unfrosted cake has been in the fridge for a day or two, that’s the best time to freeze it. You can still freeze it later — but it tastes best if you do it on the first or second day. The good news? Unfrosted carrot cake freezes really well.
- For unfrosted cake: Take the whole cake or slices and place them in a container. If you're using a few smaller containers, just cut the cake so it fits. Put it in the freezer for about an hour. This helps the cake keep its shape when you wrap it in plastic wrap.
- For carrot cake layers: No need to freeze them before wrapping. Just let them cool completely, then wrap them up.
- Take the unfrosted cake out of the freezer. Wrap it in a few layers of plastic wrap, then place it in an airtight container or a freezer bag. For baked cake layers, wrap each layer tightly in several layers of plastic wrap. Then pop them into a freezer bag. Label the unfrosted cake or layers with the date you froze them.
- If you’re using a freezer bag instead of a container, lay the unfrosted cake or layers flat in the freezer so they don’t break. The easiest way is to put them on something flat, like a cutting board. That way, they stay nice and even and will look great when you frost them later.
How to Defrost Unfrosted Carrot Cake or Cake Layers:
- In the fridge: Move the unfrosted cake or cake layers from the freezer to the fridge and let them defrost for 2–3 hours. Keep them wrapped while they thaw. If they feel a little damp afterward, just gently pat them dry with a paper towel.
- At room temperature: You can also let the unfrosted cake or layers defrost on the counter for about an hour. Keep them wrapped while they thaw. If there’s any condensation, just wipe it off with a paper towel.
- If you want to frost: Once the cake or layers have defrosted, make your cream cheese frosting in a medium bowl. You can use our recipe or go with your favorite one. Unwrap the cake or layers, frost them, and enjoy!
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Notes
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, carrot cake freezes really well. Whether it’s frosted or not, it’s a great dessert to make ahead and save for later.
There are two easy ways to freeze it:
Freeze it with frosting
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting freezes great.
But: If it’s frosted with whipped cream, don’t freeze it. That kind of frosting can fall apart and get watery.
Freeze it without frosting
You can freeze the whole unfrosted cake or just the baked carrot cake layers before frosting.
This works really well — and it actually tastes even better when you add fresh frosting after thawing.
Just wrap the cake in a few layers of plastic wrap and freeze for up to 1 month.
Carrot cake freezes well, but how long it lasts depends on whether it’s frosted or not.
If it has cream cheese frosting:
Freeze for up to 1 month.
After that, the texture of the frosting may start to change.
If it’s unfrosted (or just cake layers):
Freeze for up to 2 months.
This option keeps the best texture and flavor when you frost it later.
Wrap the cake in plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn.
Want the step-by-step? Check out our tips on how to freeze carrot cake — with cream cheese frosting or without.
Yes — it’s better to freeze carrot cake before frosting.
This way, it tastes fresher and more like it was just baked when you serve it.
Why freeze it before frosting?
Unfrosted cake holds its texture better in the freezer.
You avoid the risk of frosting separating or getting watery.
The cake tastes just like fresh once you thaw and frost it.
This works especially well for cream cheese frosting, which is best when added fresh.
Want the step-by-step? Check our tips on how to freeze unfrosted carrot cake for best results.
The best way to defrost carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is in the fridge.
This keeps the texture and flavor intact — and most importantly, it’s food safe.
Step-by-step: How to defrost it properly:
Move the frozen cake from the freezer to a shelf in the fridge.
Keep it fully wrapped — don’t remove the plastic or foil.
Let it thaw slowly in the fridge for 5 to 8 hours, depending on the cake’s size.
For faster thawing, cut the cake into large slices before freezing. Smaller pieces thaw quicker than a full cake.
Important safety tips:
Don’t thaw carrot cake at room temperature. This can lead to food safety issues, especially with cream cheese frosting.
Never refreeze thawed cake. Once it’s been defrosted, it should be eaten within a few days.
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