Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Carrot Cake

It's been awhile since I've been looking for a yummy carrot cake recipe. So glad that I found one in JoyofBaking.com

Definitely, I got very tempted to bake it directly!

So here is the result. As usual, I tried not to put any cream nor frosting to my cake but don't worry, I still put the frosting cream recipe here, in case you want to give it a try :)

cake

Carrot Cake Recipe by Stephanie Jaworski.

For the cake:
1 cup (100 grams) pecans or walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
3/4 pound (340 grams) raw carrots (about 2 1/2 cups finely grated)
2 cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar
1 cup (240 ml) safflower, vegetable or canola oil
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Note: For a moister carrot cake, add 1/2 cup of crushed pineapple (well drained) or applesauce to the batter when you add the oil and vanilla extract. You may have to bake the cake a few minutes longer.

Note: This cake can be baked in a 9 x 13 x 2 inch (23 x 33 x 5 cm) pan. Just increase the baking time to between 30 to 40 minutes

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups (230 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract
finely grated lemon zest of one lemon


Direction to make the Carrot Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter or spray two - 9 x 2 inch (23 x 5 cm) cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper.

Toast the pecans or walnuts for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

Peel and finely grate the carrots. Set aside.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Set aside.

In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the eggs until frothy (about 1 minute). Gradually add the sugar and beat until the batter is thick and light colored (about 3 - 4 minutes). Add the oil in a steady stream and then beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. With a large rubber spatula fold in the grated carrots and chopped nuts. Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After about 5 -10 minutes invert the cakes onto the wire rack, remove the pans and parchment paper, and then cool completely before frosting.

To assemble: place one cake layer, top side down, onto your serving plate. Spread with about one third of the frosting. Gently place the other cake, top of cake facing down, onto the frosting, and spread the rest of the frosting over the top and sides of the cake. If desired, press toasted and finely chopped nuts on the sides of the cake and decorate the top of the cake with marzipan carrots (see below). Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.

Serves 10 - 12.

Frosting:
In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the cream cheese and butter, on low speed, just until blended with no lumps. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on low speed, until fully incorporated and smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract, and lemon zest.

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Btw, I really love these Korean twins! I just think they are so awesome.... Beautiful voices! :)

45 comments:

  1. I love carrot cake. Your cake looks really moist! Definitely taste great!

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  2. Very beautiful carrot cake!! It looks moist!

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  3. FFT: You are so right, it's really moist :)

    KT: thanks for the compliment :)

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  4. The cake looks great. Very moist. And those twins so cute! Great voices.

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  5. FwLT: thanks! Yes, the twins really have great voices :)

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  6. The cake looks so incredibly moist! I don't think you even need the cream cheese frosting.

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  7. I like cake with cream, more cream!!!

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  8. palidor: hehehe.. yeah, you right no need cream cheese frosting coz' it's very moist already :)

    mimid3vils: Whoaaa.. you really like cake with cream, don't you? ;)

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  9. The carrot cake looks amazing! What a fantastic treat!

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  10. Those twins are very talented! The carrot cake looks awesome!

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  11. I love how moist carrot cakes are! Yours looks like it came out perfect! Beautiful voices!

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  12. I like carrot cake plain. The cream cheese frosting gets overwhelming. Yours looks fantastic, really moist!

    Those twins are awesome...I might print out a screen shot and get that haircut hahaha.

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  13. Carrot cake is a favorite of mine and yours looks beautiful. The twins are lovely and very talented. My youngest daughter is Korean.

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  14. It does look good!
    Incidently I'm craving carrot cake..oh no..ya makin me eat cake!! ugghhh! (lookin at layers ard the waist) ;p

    It doesnt seem too oily yet moist enough and got loads of carrot n nutz. I like!

    Will save the recipe. Thks dear! Can't wait to bake and experiment once I get a proper job goin..

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  15. I love the picture of the carrot cake slice - you can really tell how moist and delicious it is!

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  16. I've been searching for carrot cake recipe for quite a while, and I found this recipe posted is quite easy to follow among the all. Would like to give it a try. Just wondering can I omit the cinnamon powder?

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  17. KA: Thanks, Katherine :)

    FLnB: Totally agreed with you :)

    faith: I was so happy on how moist the carrot cake turned out :)

    mica: hehehe.. yeah! better not to add the cream cheese frosting :) The twins' haircut is so pretty! I believe that haircut will suit you very much!

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  18. mary: thanks! Oh, your youngest daughter is Korean? I've been wondering since I saw her picture on your blog :)

    TNG: Eh... why need to wait until you get a proper job? just make it now coz' later on you might be too busy with your job ;)

    5SF: thanks for the compliment :)

    LI: Yes, I think it's ok to omit the cinnamon powder though there'll be no aroma of cinnamon :) Happy baking!

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  19. i love carrot cake so much, remember my fren's mum made for us many years back with cheese as topping very nice!!

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  20. It is not easy finding a nice carrot cake and its amazing seeing such a lovely one in your blog.

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  21. I would dive right into that cake too! My favorite cake...like cream cheese icing on it as well!

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  22. mylife-myfun: that must be really great! :) No more carrot cake from your friend's mum anymore?

    ck lam: thanks for your compliments :)

    chef e: hehehe... good to know that carrot cake is your favorite cake :)

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  23. nice carrot cake but that was a real long recipe.

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  24. Beautiful texture. My favourite healthy cake.

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  25. That's a lovely looking cake!

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  26. Good looking carrot cake Selby. A slice would go well this morning for my breakfast with a hot cup of coffee.
    Sam

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  27. I love carrot cake. They're one of my favorites!

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  28. great cake but WOW those girls can really sing!

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  29. foobin: hahaha... but actually the ingredients and the way of making it are just simple ;)

    worldwindows: ah.. I wonder how much calorie is carrot cake actually.

    MCK: thanks for your compliment, Sam :)

    peachkins: carrot cake is wonderful! :)

    doggybloggy: the twins sing wonderful! :)

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  30. Carrot cake is one of my favorites. This looks so moist! great job.

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  31. awesome cake , recipe and da girls !
    carrot cakes fried are a usual item in hawker squares here

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  32. BSG: You meant those carrot cakes fried with oyster at hawker centers? Oh my... I really miss it!!!

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  33. Carrot cake is my absolute favorite and yours looks delicious!!

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  34. I could dive right into the middle of this carrot cake and swim in it, that's how delicious and moist it looks. OMG as I am typing these comments these girls are distracting me cause their voice is so heavenly. wow. Oh wait Selba, was there an earthquake there yesterday? Hope you are ok.

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  35. kerstin: thanks, Kerstin :)

    HW: Hahaha... thanks, for the compliment! Yeah, those girls' voices are so heavenly, completely agreed! :) Thanks God that Jakarta wasn't effected by the earthquake but a week ago, we had another earthquake in Jakarta, 6.4 SR.

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  36. I love carrot cake..it is just so good. I really love the new look of your site, its great!

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  37. yummy! Love your carrot cake! I like it without the frosting too :)

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  38. looks better than the 1 i just had in coffee bean~

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  39. marybeth: thank you for you kind compliments, MaryBeth :)

    noobcook: *hi5* No frosting is also delicious,ya? ;)

    taufulou: hehehe... thanks!!! :D

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  40. I'm not much of a baker, but this I have to try.
    Sam

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  41. MCK: Happy baking, Sam! Let me know the result :)

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  42. You will have to check out my Green Tomato Cake on my blog....it tastes so much like carrot cake...

    Stay Cozy, Carrie

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  43. Oh Selby, Your carrot cake is simply gorgeous. I would be honored to include it today's Carrot Cake Day post. The recipe has lots of good "stuff" too!!! I can absolutely understand why it looks so refreshing and moist. Thanks for sending me the link. Oh so good!!!

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  44. carrie: Green Tomato cake? Wow.. that's something new to me :)

    louise: I also would be honored that you are going to include this carrot cake post to your Carrot Cake Day post, Louise :) Thanks you so much for your compliments!

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