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Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

Cuisine:American

Course:Dessert

20m prep 30m cook 50m ready

A moist and flavorful carrot cake with warm spices, carrots, and walnuts. Best enjoyed with cream cheese frosting, but can be served plain or with other frostings.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1 ⅓ cups (165g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅔ cup (140g) vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups shredded carrots
  • 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts
  • (1 cup golden raisins)
  • (½ cup canned crushed pineapple, drained)
  • 1
    • 8 ounces cold cream cheese, cut into cubes
    • (6 tablespoons [¾ stick] unsalted butter, softened)
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
    • (Grated lemon or orange zest, ground cinnamon, or liqueur)
    • 8 ounces cold cream cheese, cut into cubes
    • (5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened)
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla
    • 4 cups (1 pound) powdered sugar, sifted
    Sub-recipe steps
    1. Combine in a food processor and pulse just until smooth and creamy: 8 ounces cold cream cheese, cut into cubes; (6 tablespoons [¾ stick] unsalted butter, softened); 2 teaspoons vanilla; 3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
    2. If the frosting is too stiff, pulse for a few seconds longer; do not overprocess. If desired, stir in additional flavoring to taste, such as: (Grated lemon or orange zest, ground cinnamon, or liqueur)
    3. Beat in a medium bowl, or in a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, at low speed just until blended: 8 ounces cold cream cheese, cut into cubes; (5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened); 2 teaspoons vanilla
    4. Add one-third at a time and beat just until smooth and the desired consistency: 4 cups (1 pound) powdered sugar, sifted
    5. If the frosting is too stiff, beat for a few seconds longer; do not overbeat. If desired, stir in additional flavoring to taste (see version I).
  • Powdered sugar

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • 1 ⅓ cups (165g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200g) sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ⅔ cup (140g) vegetable oil
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 ½ cups shredded carrots
  • 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts
  • (1 cup golden raisins)
  • (½ cup canned crushed pineapple, drained)
  • 1 Cream Cheese Frosting, Quick Vanilla Butter Frosting, or Quick Brown Butter Icing
  • Powdered sugar

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Whisk together thoroughly in a large bowl: 1 ⅓ cups (165g) all-purpose flour; 1 cup (200g) sugar; 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda; 1 teaspoon baking powder; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ½ teaspoon ground cloves; ½ teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg; ½ teaspoon ground allspice; ½ teaspoon salt

  2. Step 2.

    Whisk together well in a small bowl: ⅔ cup (140g) vegetable oil; 3 large eggs

  3. Step 3.

    Stir this into the flour mixture until just combined. Stir in: 1 ½ cups shredded carrots; 1 cup chopped toasted walnuts; (1 cup golden raisins); (½ cup canned crushed pineapple, drained)

  4. Step 4.

    Scrape the batter into the pan(s) and spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes in round or square pans, 30 to 35 minutes in a 13 × 9-inch pan.

  5. Step 5.

    Let the 13 × 9-inch cake cool in the pan on a rack. For round or square pans, cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely.

  6. Step 6.

    Frost with: Cream Cheese Frosting, Quick Vanilla Butter Frosting, or Quick Brown Butter Icing

  7. Step 7.

    Or sprinkle the sheet cake with: Powdered sugar

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