Nutty Carrot Cake
 
 
Author:
Recipe type: Dessert
Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour (or a combination all-purpose and whole wheat flour)
  • 2 tsps baking powder
  • 2 tsps baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 3 tsps ground cinnamon
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 ¼ cups vegetable oil (substitute ¼ cup oil for ¼ cup applesauce to reduce calories and maintain moisture)
  • 2 cups granulated sugar (or corresponding measurement for sugar substitute)
  • 3 tsps pure vanilla extract
  • Zest from ½ an orange
  • 3 cups carrot, grated (or pureed in food processor)
  • 1 cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. Prepare #2 9 inch round cake pans with Baker’s Joy or grease and flour to prevent sticking.
  3. In a large bowl or using a KitchenAid mixer & bowl, beat together eggs, oil, sugar, vanilla and orange zest.
  4. In another bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon and mix. Slowly add to wet ingredients in mixing bowl until combined.
  5. In a food processor or using a hand grater, shred carrots and mix into the cake batter.
  6. Next add the chopped pecans, mix again and distribute batter evenly between the two cake pans.
  7. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. (oven temperatures vary so watch carefully to prevent overcooking)
  8. Remove from oven and allow to rest and cool for 15-20 minutes.
  9. At this time they should be cool enough to carefully turn out onto a cooling rack or other surface to finish cooling. Do not frost until completely cooled.
Notes
Zesty Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients 3 cups confectioner’s sugar 8 oz cream cheese, softened (I used ⅓ less fat but choose your preference) ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter ¼ tsp ground nutmeg Zest from ½ and orange 2 tsp pure vanilla extract Zesty Cream Cheese Frosting Instructions In a large bowl beat mixture using a hand mixer or a KitchenAid mixer until smooth and creamy. Chill before frosting cake.
Recipe by How to Have it All at https://www.howtohaveitall.net/nutty-carrot-cake-with-zesty-cream-cheese-frosting-recipe/