ULTIMATE CARROT CAKE

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Make and share this Ultimate Carrot Cake recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Lise in Indiana

Categories     Dessert

Time 1h20m

Yield 12-14 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 24

1 lb carrot, grated
4 extra large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups canola oil
2/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 large orange, zest of, finely grated
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 1/4 cups walnuts or 1 1/4 cups shredded coconut
1 cup raisins or 1 cup dried cherries, chopped
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract (optional)
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 teaspoons orange zest
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

Steps:

  • Prepare muffin tins with papers (about 48 regular cupcakes) or two 9-inch round cake pans (2 inch sides) with parchment and oil.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Coarsely grate the carrots in a food processor using the grater attachment.
  • Chop them into finer pieces with the medal blade attachment in the food processor, if you want the texture of the cake a little bit finer.
  • Mix together the eggs, sugar, oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract and orange zest.
  • Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a bowl with a whisk.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture.
  • Add the finely chopped carrots, walnuts (or coconut), and raisins (or dried cherries).
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pans or scoop into cupcake papers (fill 3/4 full).
  • Bake cupcakes for about 18-25 minutes, or until tester comes out clean.
  • Bake 9-inch cakes for about 35-40 minutes, or until tester comes out clean.
  • Cool in pan(s) on wire rack for 10-15 minutes.
  • Make frosting by combining all frosting ingredients and beating well, until fluffy.
  • NOTE: If you like lots of frosting, double this recipe, but you'll have some left over, even if you are generous with it while frosting the cake. But it's delicious on EVERYTHING!
  • To assemble the cake, remove from pan(s) and peel off the parchment paper from the bottom, place on cardboard rounds.
  • With a thin serrated knife slice off the very top of the cake layer, using a sawing motion, to level the tops, if desired.
  • Cut the cake layers into 2 equal layers. Slide the layers onto a cardboard round or any other flat surface.
  • Using an offset spatula spread about 1½ cups of the frosting evenly over the surface of the first layer.
  • Top with the next layer and repeat for the rest of the layers.
  • Place about 2 cups of the icing on the top of the cake and spread evenly.
  • Spread the icing onto the sides of the cake.
  • Using the spatula, create swirls in the frosting on the cake. This cream cheese frosting is very soft so you won't want to try for anything too exacting.
  • Press additional shredded coconut onto the sides of this cake, as a garnish, if desired.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 858.5, Fat 50.6, SaturatedFat 14.1, Cholesterol 133.3, Sodium 392.7, Carbohydrate 96.1, Fiber 3.2, Sugar 70.9, Protein 9.7

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