Deluxe Carrot Cake Food

THE BEST CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• For the cake: Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9-inch round cake pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line the bottoms with parchment paper rounds and lightly coat the paper with spray.
• Cover the raisins with very hot water and let sit until plump, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain.
• Toast the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet until fragrant and browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, and then chop 1 cup of the pecans; reserve for the cake batter. Pulse the remaining 1/2 cup pecans in a food processor until very finely ground; reserve for garnish.
• Combine the carrots and buttermilk in a medium bowl. Whisk the flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, salt and baking soda in a large bowl. Beat the eggs, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a large bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until pale and thick, about 4 minutes. Reduce the speed to medium-low and gradually stream in the oil. Add the dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with the carrot mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Mix until smooth. Fold in the raisins and chopped pecans with a rubber spatula. Scrape the batter evenly into the prepared pans.
• Bake the cakes, rotating the pans halfway through, until a toothpick inserted into the center of each cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Transfer the pans to a wire rack and let the cakes cool for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the sides of the cakes and invert onto the rack. Remove the parchment and let the cakes cool completely.
• For the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on high speed until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in the vanilla. Reduce the speed to low and gradually mix in the confectioner' sugar. Increase the speed to high and beat until the frosting until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• To assemble the cake: When the cakes are completely cool, trim the domes of each cake round with a large serrated knife so the tops are flat. Place one cake, cut-side down, on a platter. Spread 1 1/2 cups of the frosting evenly over top. Place the remaining cake, cut-side down, on top. Spread the top with another 1 1/2 cups of the frosting. Frost the sides of the cake with another 1 1/2 cups frosting and smooth out completely to make an even crumb coat (It's ok if some of the cake shows through. This is just a base layer.) Refrigerate for 30 minutes to let the frosting set.
• Spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of the cake, swirling decoratively if desired. Sprinkle with the finely ground pecans.

CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare three 8 inch cake pans* by lightly coating with cooking spray and lining with parchment paper on the bottom.
• Beat the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and pineapple together in a large bowl.
• In another bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt and nutmeg. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.
• Fold in the carrots, pecans and raisins just until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake on the center oven rack until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes. Allow cakes to cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.

DELUXE CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Combine flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Beat eggs, oil and granulated sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gradually add flour mixture, mixing well after each addition. Stir in carrots and raisins. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9-inch round pans.
• Bake 25 to 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans 10 min.; invert onto wire racks. Gently remove pans; cool cakes completely.
• Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Blend in milk and vanilla. Gradually add powdered sugar, mixing well after each addition.
• Fill and frost cake layers with cream cheese mixture. Combine nuts and coconut; sprinkle over frosting.

DELUXE CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl, beat together the sugar, oil, eggs, buttermilk and vanilla.
• In a second bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Stir to blend.
• Gradually add the dry ingredients to the batter. Mix gently.
• Fold in the carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple and raisins with a spoon.
• Pour into a greased 9 x 13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely before frosting.
• For the frosting: In a mixing bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the vanilla and stir. Sift the powdered sugar in gradually and beat until thoroughly blended.

BILL'S CARROT CAKE DELUXE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Sift flour, the mix with sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice; set aside.
• In another bowl, combine 4 eggs, coconut, oil, pineapple, carrot, and pecans.
• Gradually stir flour mixture into egg mixture; stir by hand until well mixed together.
• Pour into a greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan.
• Bake for 40-45 minutes until testing done. Let cake cool while making frosting.
• With an electric mixer, cream together cream cheese, butter and confectioners sugar.
• Spread frosting onto cooled cake and serve. Refrigerate leftovers.

DELUXE ORANGE-CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F.
• Line two 15x10x1-inch baking pans with foil; spray with cooking spray. Grate the peel from the orange. Remove the membrane from the orange; discard. Chop orange sections. Sprinkle 2 clean towels with 3 Tbsp. powdered sugar each.
• Combine flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon and salt in bowl. Beat eggs and oil in large bowl with mixer until blended. Gradually beat in flour mixture until blended. Stir in carrots, chopped oranges and 1/2 cup nuts. Pour half the batter (about 2 cups) into each prepared pan.
• Bake 20 to 25 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Immediately invert cake onto prepared towel; remove pan. Carefully peel off foil. Starting at one short side, roll up cake and towel together. Repeat with remaining pan. Cool completely on wire rack.
• Meanwhile, beat cream cheese and remaining powdered sugar in large bowl with mixer until blended. Stir in remaining nuts, orange peel and coconut. Stir in COOL WHIP. Refrigerate 15 min.
• Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread half the cream cheese mixture onto each cake. Reroll cakes; wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 1 hour. Unwrap and sprinkle with remaining powdered sugar just before serving.