Sherris Crafty Carrot Cake Food

CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare three 8 inch cake pans* by lightly coating with cooking spray and lining with parchment paper on the bottom.
• Beat the eggs, granulated sugar, brown sugar, oil, buttermilk, vanilla, and pineapple together in a large bowl.
• In another bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt and nutmeg. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until incorporated.
• Fold in the carrots, pecans and raisins just until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake on the center oven rack until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 25-30 minutes. Allow cakes to cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes before inverting them onto a wire rack to cool completely.

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!

GRAMMY'S CARROT CAKE BARS

Steps:

• Make the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C). Spray a 9-by-13-inch (23-by-33-centimeter) baking dish with cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the oil and sugar until light and fluffy, about 4 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time and continue to beat until thick and creamy. Add the carrots and mix to combine. Remove the bowl from the mixer and stir in the flour mixture by hand, making sure not to overmix. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake until the edges pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool completely in the baking dish.
• Meanwhile, make the frosting: (If you are extra fancy and have two stand mixers, then you are all set to get started, but if you are like me and just have the one, then you have to wash the bowl and paddle attachment now.) In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream cheese and butter until well combined, about 2 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar 1/2 cup (65 g) at a time and whip on medium-low until homogenous, thick, light, and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla. Using an offset spatula, spread the frosting evenly onto the top of the cooled cake. Sprinkle the top with the walnuts. Cut the cake into thirds lengthwise and then quarters vertically to make 12 bars. Remove the cake with an offset spatula to a platter.

CARROT SNACKING CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the nuts in an even layer on a baking sheet. Cook until toasted, 8 to 10 minutes. Give them a shake halfway through so they don't burn.
• Meanwhile, prepare your baking pan. A square 8-inch cake pan or a 9-inch round cake pan both work great. You can spray the pan with nonstick baking spray with flour or line the bottom with parchment paper and then grease the pan and the paper.
• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and oil together until combined. Add the milk, sugar, vanilla and salt and whisk until combined. Sift the flour, baking soda, baking powder and cinnamon into the bowl and stir or fold until combined. Add the carrots, raisins and toasted nuts if using and stir or fold until combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until your house smells like carrot cake and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the cake from the pan and cool on the rack completely.
• While the cake is baking, make the frosting: Add the softened cream cheese to a large bowl and whisk it until it is smooth (if the cream cheese isn't softened, zap it in the microwave for 5 or 10 seconds).
• Add the confectioners' sugar, milk, vanilla, if using, and salt and whisk until smooth. If the frosting is a little too thick, add a tiny bit more milk. If it's too thin, you can add more confectioners' sugar.
• Once your cake has cooled (if it's warm it will melt the frosting), spread the frosting evenly over the cake. Tada! Enjoy!

EASY CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base and sides of two 20cm cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, yogurt, eggs, vanilla and zest in a jug. Mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg with a good pinch of salt in a bowl. Squeeze any lumps of sugar through your fingers, shaking the bowl a few times to bring the lumps to the surface.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry, along with the carrots, raisins and half the nuts, if using. Mix well to combine, then divide between the tins.
• Bake for 25-30 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. If any wet mixture clings to the skewer, return to the oven for 5 mins, then check again. Leave to cool in the tins.
• To make the icing, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add half the soft cheese and beat again, then add the rest (adding it bit by bit prevents the icing from splitting). Remove the cakes from the tins and sandwich together with half the icing. Top with the remaining icing and scatter with the remaining walnuts. Will keep in the fridge for up to five days. Best eaten at room temperature.