Outrageous Carrot Cake Food

OUTRAGEOUS CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease & flour a 13"x9" baking dish, preferably glass.
• In a large bowl, whisk or sift together flour, soda, cinnamon & salt.
• In a medium bowl, beat eggs, then add oil, buttermilk, sugar & vanilla, & blend well.
• Add this egg mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly, then stir in the pineapple, carrots, valnuts, coconut & raisins, & mix well.
• Pour into prepared baking dish & bake at least 65-70 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
• For the glaze-- 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE CAKE IS DONE-- in a saucepan mix the sugar, soda, buttermilk, corn syrup & butter, then bring to a boil & boil 5 minutes. Remove from heat & add vanilla.
• Remove the cake from the oven & with a skewer or knife poke a number of holes into the hot cake, making sure the holes reach the bottom of the cake.
• Slowly pour the hot glaze over the hot cake, carefully spreading it all over the top of the cake, until it is absorbed.
• Let the cake cool completely, then refrigerate. DO NOT REHEAT THE CAKE!

BA'S BEST CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat two 9"-diameter cake pans with nonstick spray. Line bottoms with parchment paper rounds; lightly coat rounds with nonstick spray. If using raisins and rum, heat together in a small saucepan over low just until warm, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit until liquid is absorbed and raisins are plump, 15-20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing once, until golden brown, 8-10 minutes; let cool. Combine carrots and buttermilk in a medium bowl.
• Whisk flour, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl. Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until pale and thick, about 4 minutes. Reduce speed to medium-low and gradually stream in oil. Add dry ingredients in 3 additions, alternating with carrot mixture in 2 additions, beginning and ending with dry ingredients; mix until smooth. Fold in raisins, if using, and walnuts with a rubber spatula. Scrape batter into prepared pans.
• Bake cakes, rotating pans halfway through, until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean, 35-45 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack and let cakes cool 10 minutes. Run a knife around sides of cakes and invert onto wire rack; remove parchment. Let cool completely.
• Make the frosting:
• Using an electric mixer on high speed, beat cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl until smooth, about 1 minute. Beat in vanilla extract and salt. Reduce speed to low and gradually mix in powdered sugar. Increase speed to high and beat frosting until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
• Assemble the cake:
• Place 1 cake, domed side down, on a platter. Spread 3/4 cup frosting evenly over top. Place remaining cake, domed side down, on top. Spread top and sides with 1 1/4 cups frosting and chill 30 minutes to let frosting set. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides, swirling decoratively. Top with Candied Carrot Coins, if desired.