Sunday, October 17, 2010

Carrot Cake

I have been feeling rather lazy lately. I want to bake something new. A little tired of the usual cookies, brownies and cheesecake which I always bake more than once. Just a couple of weeks ago, I made brownies for my friend who came to visit me from Hong Kong. Ok, back to my carrot cake (CC). I never try western style carrot cake until more than one year ago. In fact, I was skeptical about trying carrot cake in cafe in the past. I only tried chinese style fried carrot cake which is super duper yummy. My impression of CC changed the moment I tasted it.
Finally, I get down to bake CC. I used the recipe from Joy Of Baking.

Carrot Cake Recipe:
1 cup (100 grams) pecans or walnuts
3/4 pound (340 grams) raw carrots (about 2 1/2 cups finely grated)
2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 large eggs
1 1/2 cups (300 grams) granulated white sugar
1 cup (240 ml) safflower, vegetable or canola oil (or other flavorless oil)
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup (57 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature
8 ounces (227 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups (230 grams) confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, sifted
1 teaspoon (4 grams) pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (outer yellow skin)

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Butter or spray two - 9 x 2 inch (23 x 5 cm) cake pans and line the bottoms of the pans with a circle of parchment paper.
Toast the pecans or walnuts for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely.

Peel and finely grate the carrots. Set aside.

In a separate bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Set aside.

In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the eggs until frothy (about 1 minute). Gradually add the sugar and beat until the batter is thick and light colored (about 3 - 4 minutes). Add the oil in a steady stream and then beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat just until incorporated. With a large rubber spatula fold in the grated carrots and chopped nuts. Evenly divide the batter between the two prepared pans and bake 25 to 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After about 5 -10 minutes invert the cakes onto the wire rack, remove the pans and parchment paper, and then cool completely before frosting.
To assemble: place one cake layer, top side down, onto your serving plate. Spread with about one third of the frosting. Gently place the other cake, top of cake facing down, onto the frosting, and spread the rest of the frosting over the top and sides of the cake. If desired, press toasted and finely chopped nuts on the sides of the cake and decorate the top of the cake with marzipan carrots (see below). Cover and refrigerate any leftovers.

Serves 10 - 12.

Cream Cheese Frosting: In bowl of electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the cream cheese and butter, on low speed, just until blended with no lumps. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and beat, on low speed, until fully incorporated and smooth. Beat in the vanilla extract, and lemon zest.



My carrot cake does not look very pretty, kinda untidy. But it sure tastes very good and it has a soft texture. I will try to make a better looking carrot cake next time. :) This recipe is a keeper for sure!! Enjoy!! :)

4 comments:

fimere said...

ce gâteau est tellement bon et gourmand que je ne m'en lasse jamais
du bonheur gustatif
bonne journée

Corine said...

Heys Fimere,

Ce dessert est en effet un du bonheur gustatif. Je commence à tomber en amour avec un gâteau aux carottes. =)

ont une bonne semaine à venir

Nadji said...

Il va falloir que je fasse ce gâteau à la carotte.
Il semble tellement bon.
A bientôt.

Corine said...

Hi Nadji,

Mes collègues l'amour le gâteau aux carottes. Va les faire à nouveau, mais une jolie cherche une prochaine fois.

Bonne journée