Mother Bertas 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.

MOTHER BERTA'S CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• 1. Cut 2 carrots into 1-inch dice; place in a saucepan, cover with water and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain and puree in a food processor or blender. Set aside.
• 2. Grate the remaining carrot; reserve.
• 3. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan. Line the bottom with waxed paper and grease the paper.
• 4. Sift the flour, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon into a large bowl. Add the oil, eggs and vanilla; beat well. Fold in the carrot puree, grated carrot, walnuts, coconut and pineapple.
• 5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour.
• 6. Cool the cake in the pan for 10 minutes before unmolding it onto a rack, then let the cake cool completely.
• 7. Prepare the frosting: Mix the cream cheese and butter together in a bowl. Slowly add the confectioners' sugar. Stir in the vanilla and lemon juice. Frost the cake.

SISTER BETH'S CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Grease and flour a 9x13-inch baking pan.
• Whisk vegetable oil, white sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract together in a bowl until smooth.
• Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl.
• Stir oil mixture into flour mixture until a well-mixed batter forms.
• Fold carrots, pineapple, coconut, and walnuts into batter; pour into prepared baking pan.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour; cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Whisk confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, butter, and a dash vanilla extract together in a bowl until well blended; spread over cooled cake.

MOM-MOM'S CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• FOR CAKE:.
• Beat together all cake ingredients. Add carrots last. Grease and flour pans. Bake @ 350 for 40-55 minutes in 2 cake pans or mold. (I use a bundt cake mold and baked for 50 minutes.).
• FOR ICING:.
• Beat together. all ingredients (can use less vanilla if perferred).
• If too dry add a little milk.
• Keep cake wrapped & refrigerated.
• Best to make day before to let flavors meld.

MOM'S CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Mix flour, sugar, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove in one bowl. Mix carrots, pineapple, coconut, nuts and vanilla in another bowl. Mix oil and eggs into a third bowl.
• Dump egg/oil mixture into carrot mixture and stir well. Then add flour mixture to carrot mixture and mix well with a spoon. Pour into a 13x9x2 dish that has been buttered and floured. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes; check with a toothpick to make sure it is done.
• See cream cheese frosting recipe to frost the cake.