The Very Best Carrot Cake

Ingredients

• butter, to taste, for greasing the cake pans
• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more, to taste, for dusting the cake pans
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3 cups carrots, finely grated
• 6 cups cream cheese frosting, store-bought or homemade
• 1 cup pecans, optional, chopped, for topping