Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 8-inch round cake pans with non-stick baking spray and line the bottom of each pan with a circle of parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, add the vegetable oil, sugar, shredded carrots, eggs, and vanilla extract. Whisk until all of the ingredients are combined. Set aside.
In a separate large bowl, add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Whisk to combine.
Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Whisk to combine.
Stir in the walnuts and dates if using them.
Divide batter evenly between the two prepared pans and bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean or with moist crumbs.
Set cake aside to let it cool in the pans for 30 minutes to an hour. Run a knife along the outside of the cake to make sure it isn’t sticking to the pan before removing the cake from the pan.
Cheesecake
In a large bowl, add in the heavy cream. Beat with a hand mixer on medium until stiff peaks form. The whipped cream should stand up and hold the shape of the peaks. Set aside.
In a separate large bowl, add in the cream cheese and sugar. Beat with a hand mixer on medium until smooth and creamy.
Stir whipped cream and vanilla into the cream cheese and sugar mixture until smooth.
Spray a 9-inch springform pan with non-stick spray, and insert a parchment circle on the bottom of the pan.
Scoop cheesecake filling into the pan and evenly spread out with an offset spatula.
Refrigerate the cheesecake overnight to firm up before assembling the cake.
Frosting
Add butter and cream cheese to a medium mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer on medium until smooth and creamy.
Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat until the powdered sugar is worked into the frosting.
Assemble Cake
Using a cake leveler, level both carrot cake layers so the cake layers are flat.
Place the first cake cut side down on a cake plate.
Top it a small amount of frosting and spread it out evenly.
Add the cheesecake layer.
Add another small amount of frosting and spread it out evenly.