Brown Butter Carrot Sheet Cake With Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting Food

MISS BROWN'S PINEAPPLE CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the carrot cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 9- by 13-inch rimmed baking sheets and line each baking sheet with parchment paper (see Cook's Note).
• Whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger and allspice in a large bowl. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the oil, pineapple, brown sugar, granulated sugar and vanilla. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well combined. Mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until the batter is smooth. Set aside 2 tablespoons of the grated carrots for garnish and fold in the remaining carrots, raisins and walnuts into the cake batter.
• Divide the batter between the prepared baking sheets. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool for 30 minutes, then transfer to cooling racks, taking the parchment off the base of each cake as you go. Allow the cakes cool completely before frosting.
• For the cream cheese frosting: While the cake is baking, chill the bowl and paddle attachment for your stand mixer. Once the cake is cooled, beat together the cream cheese and butter until very smooth in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the vanilla, then slowly add the confectioners' sugar, about 1 cup at a time. The consistency should be fairly thick yet easy to spread. If it becomes too loose, add more powdered sugar (a little at a time).
• Transfer the frosting into a piping bag or a resealable plastic bag. Pipe the frosting evenly over the top of one of the cake layers. Top with the other cake layer. (If you have the time, pop the cake into the freezer here for a few minutes to make it easier to cut). Carefully cut the layered cake into 2-inch squares, so that you have individual, square, naked cakes. Pipe a little more frosting on top and decorate with the reserved grated carrots and walnuts.

CARDAMOM, BROWN BUTTER CARROT CAKE WITH ESPRESSO FROSTING

Steps:

• For the spiced carrot cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-9-by-3-inch square baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper and butter and flour the paper.
• Brown the butter in a small stainless-steel saucepan over medium-high heat. It should melt, foam and then the foam should subside. When you smell a nutty aroma, remove the butter from the heat. Remember that it will continue to brown as it cools.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together the olive oil, vegetable oil, browned butter and vanilla in a medium bowl. Mix the eggs, granulated sugar and brown sugar in an electric mixer until fluffy, about 4 minutes.
• Drizzle the oil mixture into the mixer and whisk until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and fold the dry ingredients into the mixture with a rubber spatula until combined, then stir in the carrots. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• For the frosting: Dissolve the espresso powder in 2 tablespoons of hot water. Beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar, espresso and cardamom and beat until light and fluffy.
• To assemble: Remove the cake from the pan and let cool on a wire rack. Cut into 9 squares, then split each square in half horizontally. Spread some of the icing between two cake layers, then generously spread icing over the top and garnish with the candied walnuts.