Incredible Carrot Cake
20 Jul 2008 to Desserts By Deborah
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I came across this recipe on Recipezaar and just had to post it. In terms of carrot cake the ingredients seem a little strange, but I assure you, it is incredible. Moist, with a slight crunch from the nuts, there’s a subtle richness that the carrots and pineapple carry through. Topped with cream cheese frosting, it’s just to-die-for. I also like this recipe, because there’s no fuss. You just bung everything into a bowl, mix and voila, cake! You could certainly make this in two cake pans for a layered cake, but you would need to double the frosting recipe.
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
For the cake:
- 2 cups* Plain Flour
- 2 tsp baking (bread) soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 3/4 cups sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup dessicated coconut
- 1 cup chopped walnuts**
- 8 oz / 230g canned pineapple, finely diced
Pre-heat oven to 180C/350F and grease and flour a 9×13 baking pan.
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until moist and well combined. Tip into pan and spread evenly. Bake for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow to cool
For the Frosting:
- 8 oz / 225g package cream cheese
- 1/4 cup / 55g butter, softened
- 2 cups icing sugar**
Beat all ingredients together until smooth. Add more sugar for a stiffer icing, if desired. Spread over top of cake. Cut into slices and serve.
* A cup is an American volume measure of eight fluid ounces. Use a mixing jug with fluid ounces on the side and fill to the 16 oz mark, to measure two cups of flour and carrots. 14 fluid ounces for the sugar and 8 for the nuts and coconut. It’s a rough estimate that cannot be converted to grams accurately. Once you get used to using this system it becomes extremely easy!
** I used pecans, as I prefer them to walnuts and it was perfect.
*** I used almost all of a 500g bag, as I found it to be a bit on the soft side as written.
Lottie: July 20th, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Ok I’m off the the shops. Grannymar gave me a Banana bread recipe during the week and now I’ll have to make this too. I just adore Carrot Cake and that looks divine.
Do you mind me asking if the picture is of your creation?
Deborah: July 20th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
@Lottie: Totally busted Lottie! I like to think that’s what it would have looked like if I hadn’t been stupid enough to put tinfoil on top while the frosting was still soft and before the two year old got into the pan this morning! :D It’s a stock photo.
Maz: July 20th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
I had carrot cake as well last night, mine came from the Sally Mills bakery though, they sell in the LK market, it was yummy and I’m taking you posting this recipe as a sign that I should make some for next weekend.
Sabrina Dent: July 21st, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I insist that all carrot cake is good carrot cake. I should know since I have eaten my way single handed through an entire LOAF of carrot cake in the last 24 hours. It was dinner, breakfast and lunch. Yum yum.
Siobhan: July 21st, 2008 at 5:39 pm
That recipe sounds like the one that I use, and it always draws amazing accolades from even the most discerning carrot cake consumer! I found mine in my trusty New Basics (by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins). I always thought the addition of coconut and pineapple sounded odd, but I tried it and I was entirely converted! It’s Yum, with a capital Y, and I always feel guilty taking any credit for it, as it truly is sinfully easy! :o)
Dianne: July 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm
Oh my that looks fabulous!
Lorna: July 25th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
Hope you enjoyed Comer.
I’ve just posted an award on my blog for you. Pass it on if you wish. Lorna
Oakley Rhodes: July 27th, 2008 at 7:33 am
Oh my, pineapple in carrot cake sounds so good! I can’t believe I’ve never heard of that combination before.
Cream cheese frosting might be the number one reason I believe in God. Or the devil. Ask me again when I try this recipe and eat half the frosting before the cake is out of the oven…
Polly Peirce: July 30th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Hi Deborah, it was nice to meet up with you the other day! Isn’t it funny how life repeats itself sometimes?
First we meet, then I click onto Tast.ie and find my second carrot cake recipe of the day (which by the way is a fave of mine, esp with cream cheese frosting) and then I learn that Lorna has already awarded you the Brilliante Blog Award 2008!
Still, twice awarded can’t be bad! Can it? Keep up the good work…