Jesses Karat 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.

MOLLY'S CARROT CAKE WITH SPICED CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the carrot cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease two 8-inch cake pans with nonstick cooking spray and line with parchment. Set aside.
• Combine the flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, baking soda and hawaij in a large bowl. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Whisk in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Whisk in the vanilla.
• Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula and mix until about 90% incorporated. Add the carrots and sesame seeds and mix to incorporate (and by this time, all of the flour mixture should be incorporated as well).
• Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes in the pans and then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.
• For the spiced frosting: Add the butter and cream cheese to a large bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until smooth and combined. Add the powdered sugar and mix until light and fluffy. Then add the heavy cream, vanilla, hawaij and salt. Mix until combined and smooth.
• Cover the cakes with frosting and stack. Use the carrot ribbons to roll into rose shapes and place on top of the cake. Decorate with the rosemary and serve!

JEAN-PHILIPPE'S CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 380 degrees F. Grease 6 tart molds with butter (3 1/2-inch by 1-inch).
• In an electric mixing bowl whip yolks and sugar together until silky. Add oil slowly. Sift cake flour, baking soda, salt, baking powder together and add slowly to the first mixture. Add in the carrot and spices. Whip egg whites with sugar to a soft peak and fold it gently into the mix. Fill the molds with prepared mix, add some roasted walnut pieces on the top and bake for 18 minutes.
• When ready, unmold on to wire screen until cold.
• Combine and cook together water, sugar, and honey until 248 degrees F on a candy thermometer is reached. While whipping egg whites, pour in slowly and continue whipping until cold firm peaks form, then add orange blossom water. Keep mixing at second speed until ready to use.
• In a blender, mix all ingredients together until smooth. Keep refrigerated.
• Citrus Syrup 1/2 cup water 1/4 cup sugar Zest of half a lemon Zest of half an orange
• Boil all ingredients together for 1 minute. Strain and cool down before using.
• Assembly Shredded coconut for garnish Strawberry, diced for garnish Pineapple, diced for garnish
• Dip Carrot Cake in the Citrus Syrup for 5 seconds and place on a baking pan. Place a 3-inch wet round cookie cutter on top of the cake and immediately fill it with the meringue to the top. Pull out the cookie cutter and sprinkle some shredded coconut on top. Bake for 8 minutes at 370 degrees F. Place the warm cake in the center of a 10-inch dinner plate, pour some cream cheese sauce around and garnish with diced strawberry and pineapple. Enjoy!

JESSE'S KARAT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• In a mixing bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, and cinnamon. In another mixing bowl combine milk, oil and eggs. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and beat in low speed until absorbed. Fold in carrots and pecans.
• Pour the batter evenly into a greased 9 by 13 by 2-inch pan lined with parchment paper. Bake in 350 degree F. oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely in the pan. Remove cooled cake from pan and remove paper from the cake and cover cake with Frosting.
• Combine softened cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla extract, and beat until smooth. Add confectioners' sugar and beat until light and fluffy. Fold in coconut flakes and chopped pecans.

WHY-I-JOINED-ZAAR CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
• Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; make a well in the center and add sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix with wooden spoon until smooth.
• Stir in carrots, coconut, walnuts and pineapple. Pour into 9x13 inch pan and bake for about 45 minutes. Don't panic, the centre will sink a little.
• Allow to cool; when cool, ice the cake. You can certainly use your favourite cream cheese frosting to ice this cake, but the one I've included is highly recommended (I usually leave the cake in the 13x9 pan and just ice the top).
• To make the frosting: Cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth; add the icing sugar and beat until creamy.

A 14-CARAT CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon.
• In mixing bowl, beat eggs and add sugar.
• Let stand until sugar dissolves, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in oil, carrots, drained pineapple and nuts.
• Stir in dry ingredients and beat until well blended--3 minutes or so with blender.
• Turn into 3 greased and floured 9-inch round cake pans or one 13-x9-inch pan.
• Bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.
• Cool in pans about 10 minutes, then turn onto wire racks to cool completely before frosting.
• Frosting: Combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla in large bowl and beat until well blended.
• Add powdered sugar gradually, beating vigorously.
• If frosting is too thick, thin with a few drops of milk to spreading consistency.