Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease 2 9-inch round cake pans with some cooking spray. Sprinkle a couple of tablespoons of flour in each greased pan. Shake the pan gently to spread flour around evenly on the bottom and the sides. Turn the pans over and pat the excess flour out of the pan.

Step 2

Grate carrots on a fine grater and add it to the large mixing bowl.

Step 3

Add eggs, sugars, and oil. Whisk very well until completely combined.

Step 4

Add flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon. Whisk together well.

Step 5

If using nuts, fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans.

Step 6

Split the batter between two cake pans evenly. If available, use a kitchen scale to make sure batter amount is even in each pan.

Step 7

Bake for about 30 minutes, check with a toothpick to make sure it's done. Be careful not to overcook or the cake will be dry.

Step 8

Let cakes cool in the pan for about 15 minutes. Run a butter knife along the edge of the cake layer to help separate it from the pan. Gently tap the corners of the cake pan to loosen the cake a bit. Turn the pan over to take the cake layers out of the pans.

Step 9

Cool cake layers for 45-60 minutes on the wire rack before frosting.

Step 10

Combine softened butter and cream cheese in the bowl of the electric mixer. Beat for 3-4 minutes on medium-high speed.

Step 11

Scrape sides and bottom of the bowl and add powdered sugar and vanilla extract. Starting on low speed and then gradually bringing it up to medium-high, beat for another 3-4 minutes.

Step 12

Use a long serrated knife to even the bottom of top layer and the top of the bottom layer by off a very thin layer. KEEP the dome that you sliced off and crumble it to use for decorating the cake.

Step 13

Frost the bottom cake layer on top and stack the second layer on top. Add about 1/2 cup of chopped nuts over the frosting if you wish. Then, frost the second layer and the sides of the cake.

Step 14

Use the cake crumbs to decorate the cake and add some more nuts of top. (You can also use the crumbled cake pieces to make cake pops.)