Eat Cake Carrot Cake!

(This Carrot Cake recipe isn’t the one from the book. I’ve tried a few of  the “eat cake” recipes and they’re super yummy! Might be an idea for some future blog…)

Carrot Cake

Let butter, eggs, cream cheese reach room temperature (set out in the morning)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place oven rack in the center of the oven. Butter two 9×2 inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with a circle of parchment, then butter again.

Prep:
1 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted (8 min, in skillet, medium high on stove) and coarsely chopped

2 1/2 C  finely shredded carrots

In a small sauce pan over med-low heat boil till soft and liquid evaporates: (optional)
1 C raisins
1/2 C water

In a separate bowl combine and set aside:
2 C all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tsp cinnamon

In a mixing bowl combine and beat:
4 large eggs- beat 1 minute till frothy
1 1/2 C white sugar- add gradually to the eggs and beat until the batter is thick and light colored (4 min)
1 C canola or safflower oil- add in a steady stream
2 tsp vanilla

Add the flour mixture 1/2 C at a time to the wet, mix until moist

Hand stir in the carrots, raisins, and nuts.  Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans. Bake 350 degrees 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 10 minutes, turn them out, cool completely before frosting.

Butter pans and cut out parchment papers for the bottoms

Place in pan and butter

Mix dry ingredients

Whip eggs till frothy- 1 min

Add sugar and beat 4 min till thick and light colored

Add oil in a steady stream, then add dry 1/2 C at a time

Hand stir in carrots, raisins, nuts

Always double check your recipe!! (I forgot the cinnamon)

Pour half of batter in each pan

Peel back parchment paper, let cool before frosting

eat cake…

Cream Cheese Frosting

1/2 C butter- room temperature
8 oz cream cheese- room temperature
3 1/2 cups powder sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla
Finely grated lemon zest of one lemon

Cream the butter and cream cheese till smooth, add powder sugar, vanilla, lemon zest.  Place one cake layer top side down on serving dish, spread with 1/3 the frosting. Place the other cake on top, face side down, frost the top and sides of cake.

Cream the butter and cream cheese, add sifted powdered sugar

finely grated lemon rind

Zest of one lemon

Add zest with vanilla

Frost as directed

My BFF, Carol and her folks visiting from Texas