Thursday, March 26, 2009

Carrot cake

I found this recipe in http://www.seriouseats.com/. It’s adapted from The Sweet Melissa Baking Book. I didn’t use the frosting in this recipe but I bet the orange cream cheese frosting would be a nice variation to the normal cream cheese frosting.
I halved the recipe and baked it in a 6” cake pan. I also substituted the walnuts with almonds and added a layer of honey in the cake. The cake is decorated with cream cheese stars and some powdered sugar.
This cake was good however I wish to try another lighter and fluffier version. If anyone has a nice carrot cake recipe who would like to share it with me I’ll be more than happy to try it.
Carrot Cake with Fresh Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

For the cake :
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
4 large eggs
3/4 cup vegetable or canola oil
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 pound carrots, grated medium fine
3/4 cup walnut pieces, coarsely chopped (used almonds)

For the fresh orange cream cheese frosting:
12 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
Zest of 1 orange
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Before you startPosition a rack in the center of your oven. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Butter and flour two 8x2-inch round cake pans. Line each pan with an 8-inch round of parchment paper.
To make the cake
1. in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and baking powder.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whip attachment, beat the eggs at high speed until light and frothy, about 1 minute. Decrease the speed to medium and add the oil, sugar, and salt, and mix until just combined. Decrease the speed to low and add the flour mixture, mixing until just combined.
3. Remove the bowl from the mixer. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the carrots and walnuts.
4. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared cake pans. Spin the pans to level the batter. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove to a rack to cool for 20 minutes before turning the layers out onto the rack. Cool completely before filling or frosting.
To make the frosting
1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the cream cheese, sugar, and zest. Start on low speed and then increase to medium-high speed and beat until smooth, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
2. Add the butter and mix on medium speed until just fluffy and smooth, about 45 seconds more. Add the vanilla and mix until just combined. Do not overbeat.
The cake keeps in a cake saver in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. It tastes great eaten at room temperature or chilled.

33 comments:

My Ricettarium said...

Un vero spettacolo!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kittys Kitchen said...

Che bella torta! Adoro la torta di di carote!

apparentlyjessy said...

I think I've already mentioned this, but I LOVE carrot cake! And yours looks so so sooo good!

i dolci di laura said...

una golosa meraviglia! la provo per i miei bimbi

Juls said...

MMHM! yummy! It's one of my favourite cake! I can still remember the first time I've tasted it in a little cafe in Ireland! gorgeous!

Micaela said...

che bontà!!! la torta di carote è la mi apreferita!!! devo provare anche la tua versione!! un bacione.

Lidia Miglionico said...

La torta di carote....ottima e poi l'hai decorata perfettamente...brava Natalie non ti smentisci mai!!!!

Sweet Treats by Dani said...

carrott cake is my all-time fave treat!!! love this one!

LizNoVeggieGirl said...

Scrumptious and spectacular!!

Roby said...

Quant'è buona la torta di carote...e a questa ne darei volentieri un morso.Bravissima come sempre, Roby

Ely said...

che meraviglia, peccato non capire l'inglese per gli ingredienti ma mi basta guardare le tue foto... sono capolavori, baci Ely

katty said...

wow bellissima!!!!

Elyse said...

Yum! This carrot cake looks so deliciously moist and perfect!! I think I really need to invest in the Sweet Melissa Baking book. Man, this makes me want a slice for breakfast. And I just love your decorations!

Dewi said...

What a delightful cake Natalie, looks really delicious too.
Cheers,
elra

Marthe said...

Your carrot cake looks absolutely gorgeous, I love the mini-carrots on top of the cake!

Maya said...

io impazzisco per la torta di Carote!;)

Kitchen Corner said...

Beautiful carrot cake! I've not tried to bake a carrot cake yet. Must try it one day. This looks very pretty decoration! Where did you get the little carrot?

Eliana said...

Carrot cake is my absolute fav. dessert. I have a recipe that I have been using for a few years now (and I make it quite a few times a year) that I will be posting on my blog next week (www.achicabakes.com). You should check it out. It is fool proof and very tastey.

Anonymous said...

I love carrot cake - this one looks fantastic!!

Mattarella said...

Non ho ancora trovato una ricetta di torta di carote come piace a me...questa però sembra perfetta, umida e morbida...proverò!!baci

Cakebrain said...

ooh! what a decadent-looking carrot cake! I like the little mini carrot decorations on top!

Sophie said...

Looks delectable. I actually like that you just added the cream cheese stars, that way I can taste more of the cake! Yum yum!

Unknown said...

che carina....e mi sembra anche molto gustosa!!!
complimenti
vale

Y said...

The little carrots are so cute! I made carrot cake the other day too. Gotta have your daily vegetables after all!

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

Although I love cream cheese icing (it's probably my favourite ever), the way you've decorated this is absolutely gorgeous!

Mermaid Sews said...

I am bookmarking this too - I started a blogging baking group to bake through the sweet melissa baking book - so I will be sure to refer people to your post when we get to this cake.

Coco Cake Land said...

NICE natalie! looks beautiful and delish too. i love the first pic of the fancy slice saying "later!" to the rest of the cake... :)

Hannah said...

I don't really know why carrot cake is always associated with spring, but it just seems to make sense; It definitely seems appropriate (and wonderfully delicious) for this season!

silvanausa said...

hello I have an award for you come and collect it ciaoooo

Anonymous said...

Looks great! Try Exclusively food for another great carrot cake recipe :)

Grammatically Delicious Designs said...

I am officially in love with your carrot cake. It is perfect. Truly. Now, I better get away from my computer before I lick the screen.

Danielle

Federica Simoni said...

Grazie per aver visitato il mio blog, io ho curiosato nel tuo e devo dire che fai veramente delle belle ricette!
Ti seguirò sicuramente!
ciao

Unknown said...

I never bake a carrot cake before.Your carrot cake looks very tempting to try.Orange cream sounds a great idea to me :P