10.14.2013

WORLD'S BEST CARROT CAKE!



Alright folks, the [little one] is asleep and [the man] is working, so here is the much anticipated recipe for this delicious carrot cake with rich, thick, cream cheese frosting with coconut!

When I was trying to think of a name for this carrot cake i couldn't help but think about the movie Elf and this clip.


I had to name it World's Best Carrot Cake. I can't say whether this is the WORLDS BEST, because we all know i haven't tried every carrot cake in the world, but it is pretty dang good and the best one I have ever had.

[The man] loves carrot cake from Vons/Safeway. I don't know if you have ever had it, but they have this amazing three layer "artisan colossal carrot cake." It is one of his favorite desserts (that was until he had this!) He has been on me for quite a while to try to make one that is better, so he can have "homemade" carrot cake instead of store bought. I have kind of pushed this request to the side because honestly baking is not my favorite thing to do. I feel like i know the rules of cooking better so that i can better adapt a recipe to my liking. I am just not as comfortable with baking, so needless to say i have had this request on my plate for quite some time. Finally he told me that he wanted carrot cake for his birthday, so there was no way around it, I had to find something. I searched and read recipes and finally i found the recipe that i wanted to try. It looked delicious and spicy and moist and everything i was looking for.

And so this weekend we gave it a try and you know what? IT WAS SOOO GOOD! We made some minor changes and [the man] loved it! I guarantee you that the next request will be to cut this recipe down by about eight and bake a one person sized carrot cake...i'll post it when that time comes. I guarantee it will.

But without further adieu, here is the Worlds Best Carrot Cake Recipe!

ENJOY!

WORLDS BEST CARROT CAKE!

INGREDIENTS

1 pound finely grated carrots
4 extra large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cup canola oil
2/3 cups firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
Finely grated zest of 1 large orange
2 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmegs
3/4 cups toasted walnuts 
3/4 cups shredded coconut
1 cup raisins (the man really like this amount of raisins, i think i would prefer golden raisins and 1/2 cup instead of a whole cup) you could also use dried cherries or cranberries or currants

Mix together the eggs, sugar, oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract and orange zest. Combine all of the dry ingredients in a bowl with a whisk. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture. Finally add the finely chopped carrots, coconut, walnuts and raisins.

Stir until just combined.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pour batter into two 9″ greased cake pans and bake for 35-45 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Remove from oven.

Let cool and then frost. (one recipe of frosting i thought was the perfect amount to not be over-powering. if you like a lot of frosting you may want to double the recipe.)

Top with additional toasted walnuts.

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING 

12 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 ounces unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons pure vanilla
1/4 teaspoon lemon extract
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 teaspoons orange zest
2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/4 tsp salt

Mix all ingredients together (if it is too thick, add a couple Tablespoons of Cream) then add

1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup toasted walnuts

Stir to combine

2 comments:

  1. This looks super delicious .. Waiting for your recipe

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    Replies
    1. it is sooo good. i am working on it right now!

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