What is it about cream cheese frosting that makes it irresistible? Is it its luscious silky texture … the heavenly tang of cream cheese … or the fact that it isn’t overly sweet? It’s such a simple frosting of cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla but the taste is like nothing else. It compliments whatever flavors it is paired with from chocolate cake to zucchini bread. I admit that I can eat it by the spoonful and have made graham cracker sandwiches out of it when the cookie jar was empty. I have bought a cupcake just for the frosting when I’m in the mood for a special treat. What can I say…I’m hooked on it.
I made this cake for Mother’s Day dinner and judging by what’s left everybody enjoyed it. If you do have leftovers the cake keeps well, and is even a little better the second day. Wrap well in plastic wrap and refrigerate.
My piping skills are so bad but I think little squirts of frosting on the cake top dress it up. I bought the little sugar carrots at the cake supply store earlier this spring and they were a nice touch. If I had more time I would have tried to put a little fancy finish at the bottom because I could have scraped it off if it was too awful. But I ran out of time so this is what went to the table.
Carrot Cake Crumb Coat
A crumb coat spread on the cake before it’s frosted prevents little crumbs from spoiling the look of the cream cheese frosting. Just spread on a thin layer of frosting with an offset spatula and let it dry for an hour or two. You will be amazed how much easier a cake is to frost if you do this one easy extra step.
- Bunny placemats for carrot cake
Aren’t these the cutest placemats? I have had them for years and think they are the perfect table decoration when carrot cake is served.
KitchenAid Mixer
I recently won the most wonderful KitchenAid Mixer in a giveaway at Rattlebridge Farm. I seldom win anything and was just overwhelmed when I heard that I was the lucky one. This is an extraordinary piece of kitchen equipment that means business when it kneads several loaves of bread dough or a large batch of cookies. Thank you ever so much, Michael Lee. I know my family and I will get years of enjoyment from this great gift. I splurged a little bit and bought the paddle attachment with the rubber edges that I’ve seen advertised in Bon Appetit and I can’t recommend it highly enough. With it there is no need to stop and scrape the bottom and sides of the bowl to incorporate all the ingredients. You need this!!!! I paid $24.99 for mine at a big box store so this deal on Amazon is a steal.
- CAKE:
- 2 cups sugar
- 1-1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon nutmeg
- 3 cups finely grated peeled carrots (about ¾ pound)
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
- ½ cup raisins, coarsely chopped
- FROSTING:
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
- Lightly grease three 8-inch cake pans. Line bottoms with parchment or wax paper and lightly grease. Using electric mixer beat sugar and vegetable oil in a bowl until combined. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmet into sugar and oil mixture. Stir in carrots, chopped pecans and raisins.
- Pour batter into prepared pans, dividing equally. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean and cakes begin to pull away from sides of pans, about 45 minutes. Cool in pans on racks 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks and cool completely. Cake can be made 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly in plastic and store at room temperature.
- Assemble cake on a cake plate by spreading ¾ cup frosting BETWEEN each of the cake layers. Spread a very thin layer of frosting (crumb coat) over the top and sides of the cake and let dry, uncovered, for about 2 hours. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting.
- Serve cake cold or at room temperature.
- FOR FROSTING:
- Using electric mixer, beat all ingredients in a medium bowl until smooth and creamy.
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{ 28 comments… read them below or add one }
How exciting to win such a fantastic mixer! I bet you were stunned.
Cathy, your cake is gorgeous and I agree that cream cheese frosting is the best. It is so creamy and goes with about any flavor of cake.
I must confess that I’ve never made a carrot cake, only because I didn’t want to grate the carrots. But my husband bought me a food processor for Christmas, so now I don’t have a good excuse!
Congrats on the win, very cool! Your carrot cake looks absolutely amazing, it’s a huge family favorite in our house. I agree it’s even better the second day. Now I really want a big slice of carrot cake.
Carol @ Always Thyme to Cook recently posted..Baked Fish with Fresh Herbs and Bread Crumbs
Lucky you for the win!! Cake looks fantastic…
Carrot Cake is my favorite – I agree I can eat cream cheese frosting straight off a spoon – not proud of this
Virtually Homemade – Liz recently posted..Almond Cream Crescent Rolls with Semi-Sweet Chocolate
Just a few little differences in our recipes..:) I made it 3 layers once and thought ..even prettier..
Your icing and decorations turned out so well..You know..when our daughters married..they requested I make the cake..carrot:)That’s what a favorite it is here.
What a treat what you won!
That’s like a TV show prize..Good for you!!
Monique recently posted..Soul Food #129~
A teaspoon of vanilla would be a nice addition to the cake. I know someone who adds chopped canned pineapple also. Yum.
Congratulations…WOW! This is one of our favourites, but i must say mine never looked quite as elegant as yours. You’re right frosting is something special. Thank you for that tip about the crumb coating.
Rita
Congrats on your big win, Cathy! I have that beater blade, too…what a wonderful invention
And carrot cake is one of my favorites…I’ll have to see if I can find some of those cute sugar carrots! Perfect garnish! Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day~
Liz recently posted..Spinach Salad with Pears, Cranberries and Cashews~
How fabulous that you won that mixer. What a wonderful and special surprise. I can see you put it to good use making that beautiful carrot cake. I think your piping skills are terrific and I love those little carrots you found to put on top. If only I had a slice of this right now!
ciaochowlinda recently posted..Tiramisu
Your cake is beautiful Cathy! My boys love carrot cake and I haven’t made one in a while… Now that you’ve reminded me, maybe soon:@) Congrats on winning the KA, I know you’ll get lots of good use out of it, it’s wonderful!
Carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is one of my absolute favorites! Yours looks heavenly.
Kate recently posted..Beef Stroganoff
Looks fabulous Cathy. It’s my husband’s very favorite!
gnee recently posted..Teacher Appreciation Week
You did a fabulous job decorating this cake Cathy! This also happens to be my favorite carrot cake recipe! It is awesome! Yours looks like it came from a bakery! I recently gave it to a young friend who just graduated from college and loves to bake…this was her very first carrot cake and she felt like a rock star after baking it!
I love those little carrots!
Hope your Mother’s Day was lovely!
L~xo
Linda recently posted..Alton’s Buttermilk Biscuits
What a great looking cake and it looks delicious. By the way congratulations for the win and you made it well deserve it. It is a good gift for mothers, I wish I could make like this one.
Marnie Byod recently posted..property promoting slide shows
Good Grief Cathy that cake looks like it came from an upscale professional bakery. Carrot cake is my favorite and since I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, love cream cheese frosting. Congrats on the mixer win. You better go buy a lottery ticket.
Lea Ann recently posted..Boulder Beer Porter Stew
I have a KA just like that one. Leave it on the counter and luv it. Congrats!
What a really beautiful job you did on that cake. And luv the coordination of placemats and plates.
You have won my dream appliance Cathy. Congratulations. Carrot cake has always been a favourite around here with cream cheese icing.
bellini recently posted..Celebrate Mothers Day with a Cheesy Puff
That’s a beautiful layered cake! Love the garnishing carrots … so adorable.
Angie@Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Honey Peanut Spelt Bars
That cake looks amazing, I think it is actually good that I have not attempted to make my own cream cheese frosting because it would never make it out of the bowl on to a cake.
Rhonda recently posted..The Best Thing I Ever Ate – Sandwiches
Congratulations for winning such a useful gift! I too love creamcheese frosting; so much better than the normal butter creamwhich I hardly ever used to frost my cakes. That is one gorgeous cake you’ve baked Cathy.
Jeannie recently posted..Happy Bread
What a gorgeous cake, Cathy! I love a delicious carrot cake and your is so beautiful. Thank for the frosting tips too! Congratulations on your wonderful win, Cathy! I know you will make delicious use of it. I have to get that paddle attachment.
Susan recently posted..Parsley and Chive Pull Apart Rolls
I haven’t had carrot cake in a long time. It looks so pretty cathy.
I’m going to make this…
What a great win with the KA! I tried like crazy to win one from Pioneer Woman’s blog… she gives them away quite often, but she also gets 50,000 comments when she gives them away, so the chances aren’t very good. I have a KA, but wanted to win one for my daughter… I finally bought one for her last year. The carrot cake looks pretty and I don’t make cakes very often, but I’ll remember the good tip about weighing the batter so the cakes come out even!
Karen recently posted..Beer Bread
Cathy, Congrats on the mixer! Wow, and look what you’ve done with it, that cake is my favorite, you’re such an awesome baker!
A favorite in our house! I haven’t made it since last summer, must be time. Yours looks wonderful!
Kathleen recently posted..Let’s Dish # 9~ Which Came First?
My mother loves carrot cakes. She’ll be thrilled that I found this recipe. Thanks!
I do not like cream cheese frosting although I must say that it does pair pretty well with carrot cake. But I DO love carrot cake and have never been able to turn out one as perfect as yours looks! Wow it is a stunner…and I am not even talking about the gorgeous decorating you’ve done! Cathy, this is a fabulous cake! Fabulous! And YAY for you for winning that KitchenAid! Lucky!!!
Jamie recently posted..VEAL ROLLS IN A TOMATO WINE SAUCE
Made this last night and it was delicious! Great recipe.