Emerils Classic Carrot Cake With Fresh Coconut Walnut Frosting 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.

EMERIL'S CLASSIC CARROT CAKE WITH FRESH COCONUT WALNUT FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease 3 round (9 inch) cake pans with 2 teaspoons.
• of the butter.
• In the bowl of an elctric mixer, fitted with a paddle, combine the 1/2 cup of the butter, oil, sugar and brown sugar.
• Cream the mixture until smooth.
• Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a small mixing bowl.
• Add the eggs to the butter/sugar mixture, 1/2 cup at a time.
• Add the carrots, ground walnuts and vanilla.
• Mix well.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans and spread evenly.
• Place in the oven and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes or until the center springs back when touched.
• Remove from the oven and cool.
• In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese and remaining 1/2 cup butter.
• Mix well.
• Add the walnut pieces and coconut.
• Mix well.
• Add the powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time and mix until the frosting is spreadable.
• To assemble, slice each cake in half.
• Place on half in the center of a serving plate.
• Brush the top of the cake with the syrup.
• Spread 1/2 cup of the frosting over the first layer.
• Repeat the above process until all of the layers are used.
• Ice the entire cake with the remaining frosting.
• Refrigerate the cake for 30 mninutes.

TROPICAL CARROT CAKE WITH COCONUT CREAM FROSTING

Steps:

• For Cake: Preheat oven to 350.
• Butter three 9" diameter cake pans with 1 1/2"-high sides.
• Line bottom with parchment paper.
• Combine 1/3 cup flour and next three ingredients in processor.
• Process until nuts are finely chopped.
• Whisk remaining two cups flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and baking soda in medium bowl to blend.
• Using electric mixer, beat sugar and oil in large bowl to blend.
• Add eggs one at a time, beat well after each addition.
• Beat in vanilla.
• Beat in flour-spice mixture.
• Stir in coconut-macadamia nut mixture, then carrots and crushed pineapple.
• Divide batter among pans.
• Bake until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
• Cool in pans, on rack 1 hour.
• Run knife around edge of pans to loosen cakes.
• Turn cakes out onto racks; cool completely.
• For Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth.
• Beat in powdered sugar, then cream of coconut and both extracts.
• Chill until firm enough to spread.
• ,about 30 minutes.
• Place one cake layer, flat side up on platter.
• Spread 3/4 cup frosting over top of cake.
• Top with second cake layer, flat side up.
• Spread 3/4 cup of frostin gover.
• Top with third cake layer, rounded side up, pressing slightly to adhere.
• Spread thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake.
• Chill cake and remaining frosting 30 minutes.
• Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.
• Arrange whole nuts and ginger around top edge of cake.
• Chill 1 hour (Cake can be made one day ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill. Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.).

EXCELLENT CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients; beat well.
• Mix flour, soda, salt and cinnamon; add to creamed mixture; stir well.
• Add carrots, walnuts, pineapple and coconut; stir well.
• Pour batter into greased and floured 13x9 baking pan.
• Bake at 350° for 55 minutes, or until pick comes out clean.
• Buttermilk Glaze: Combine first 5 ingredients in large saucepan.
• Bring to a boil; cook 4 minutes on medium heat.
• Remove from heat; add vanilla.
• Pour buttermilk glaze over warm cake; let cake cool.
• Cream Cheese Frosting: Mix cream cheese and butter; beat until smooth.
• Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Spread cream cheese frosting on top of cooled cake.

GIGI'S CARROT CAKE BY EMERIL LAGASSE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Butter 3 (9-inch) cake pans with 1 tablespoon of the butter and set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter with an electric mixer. Add the sugar, and beat. In a medium bowl or on a piece of parchment, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt, and mix well.
• Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the eggs, beating well after the addition of each. Add the vanilla extract and mix. Add the carrots and beat on medium speed until well incorporated, about 2 minutes. Fold in the nuts. Divide between the 3 cake pans and bake until set and a cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and let rest in the cake pans for 10 minutes. Invert onto wire racks, remove from the pans, and let cool.
• For the Frosting: In a large bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add the sugar gradually, beating constantly. Add the vanilla and pecans.
• When the cake is cool, place 1 cake layer on a cake plate or stand. Spread the top with cream cheese frosting and top with a second and third cake layer, spreading the icing between each layer. Spread the icing around the sides of the cake and let harden slightly before serving. To serve, cut into wedges.

GREYSTONE CLASSIC CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Butter and lightly flour two 8-inch cake pans.
• Mix together sugar, oil, buttermilk, honey, and eggs in the large bowl of a mixer.
• Beat until light.
• Sift together flour, cinnamon, salt and baking soda.
• Add this gradually to the egg mixture.
• Stir in lemon zest, grated carrots, raisins, and walnuts.
• Pour into prepared pans; distribute evenly.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes.
• Center will spring back when lightly pressed.
• Turn onto rack to cool.
• While cakes are cooling; prepare frosting.
• For icing: Mix all ingredients well and chill 1 hour before frosting the cake.

COCONUT CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat the sugar, oil and eggs until well blended. In another large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Drain pineapple, reserving juice; set juice aside. Stir in the pineapple, carrots and coconut (batter will be thick). , Transfer to three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add confectioners' sugar and enough of the reserved pineapple juice to achieve desired spreading consistency. Tint 1/4 cup frosting orange; place in a small resealable plastic bag. Cut a small hole in a corner of the bag; set aside., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with a third of the white frosting. Repeat layers twice. With orange frosting, pipe carrots on top; add parsley sprig for carrot top. Cover and store in the refrigerator.