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SIMPLE CARROT CAKE
WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
Makes one 13 by 9-inch cake
If you like nuts in your cake, stir 1 1/2 cups toasted chopped pecans
or walnuts into the batter along with the carrots. Raisins are also a
good addition; 1 cup can be added along with the carrots. If you add
both nuts and raisins, the cake will need an additional 10 to 12 minutes
in the oven. |
1. FOR THE CAKE: Adjust oven rack
to middle position; heat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13 by 9-inch
baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pan
with parchment and spray parchment.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg,
cloves, and salt in large bowl; set aside.
3. In food processor fitted with large shredding disk, shred carrots
(you should have about 3 cups); transfer carrots to bowl and set aside.
Wipe out food processor workbowl and fit with metal blade. Process granulated
and brown sugars and eggs until frothy and thoroughly combined, about
20 seconds. With machine running, add oil through feed tube in steady
stream. Process until mixture is light in color and well emulsified,
about 20 seconds longer. Scrape mixture into medium bowl. Stir in carrots
and dry ingredients until incorporated and no streaks of flour remain.
Pour into prepared pan and bake until toothpick or skewer inserted into
center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating pan halfway
through baking time. Cool cake to room temperature in pan on wire rack,
about 2 hours.
4. FOR THE FROSTING: When cake is cool, process cream cheese, butter,
sour cream, and vanilla in clean food processor workbowl until combined,
about 5 seconds, scraping down bowl with rubber spatula as needed. Add
confectioners’ sugar and process until smooth, about 10 seconds.
5. Run paring knife around edge of cake to loosen from pan. Invert cake
onto wire rack, peel off parchment, then invert again onto serving platter.
Using icing spatula, spread frosting evenly over surface of cake. Cut
into squares and serve. (Cover leftovers and refrigerate for up to 3
days.) |
