Pumpkin Carrot Cake With Cream Cheese Frosting Food

CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Coat three 8-inch round cake pans with cooking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper; coat the parchment with more cooking spray. Spread the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool, then roughly chop 1 1/2 cups walnuts and finely chop 1 1/2 cups. Set aside the finely chopped nuts for topping.
• Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg in a medium bowl. In a large bowl, beat the vegetable oil, granulated sugar and brown sugar with a mixer on medium-high speed until smooth, about 3 minutes. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, until just combined. With the mixer on medium-low speed, beat in the flour mixture in three batches, alternating with the buttermilk, until combined. Stir in the vanilla. Gently fold in the carrots, raisins and roughly chopped walnuts with a rubber spatula.
• Divide the batter among the cake pans and bake until a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Transfer to racks and let cool 20 minutes in the pans. Remove the cakes from the pans, remove the parchment and let cool completely on the racks.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: Beat the butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until smooth and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
• Place one cake layer on a platter or cake stand and spread 1 cup frosting on top. Add another cake layer, spread with another 1 cup frosting and then add the last cake layer. Cover the top and sides of the cake with a very thin layer of frosting (this is the crumb coat). Refrigerate 1 hour.
• Cover the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting, then carefully press the finely chopped walnuts into the sides.

PUMPKIN CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Beat pumpkin, sugar, oil and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.
• Add eggs and mix well.
• Combine dry ingredients, except nuts (if using) and gradually add to pumpkin mixture, beating until well blended.
• Fold in nuts.
• Pour into a greased 9 x 13 inch baking pan/dish.
• Bake for 35- 40 minutes or until center tests done.
• Cool completely before frosting.
• (I keep mine in the pan-- I use a glass Pyrex baking pan).
• For the frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth.
• Gradually add sugar and mix until well combined and smooth.
• Add milk and beat until frosting is the spreading consistency you desire.
• Frost cake and sprinkle with chopped nuts if you like.