Celebration Carrot Cake
Serves 8
Crowd Pleasers
Desserts
Vegetarian
A family favourite that's stood the test of time, so moist & delicious!
Prep time - 25 minutes
Cooking time - 45 to 60 minutes
Ingredients
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon bi-carbonate soda
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 eggs
- 1¾ cups vegetable (or sunflower) oil
- 2 cups carrot, peeled and grated
- ½ cup chopped California walnuts *
- 1 x 440g tin crushed pinapple in juice (not syrup)
Frosting Ingredients
- 150g butter (softened to room temperature)
- 250g cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- 100g sifted icing sugar
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Cooking Steps
1
For the Cake:
Preheat oven to 180°c (355°f).
In a large mixing bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder, bi-carbonate soda and cinnamon.
2
Add eggs to dry/flour ingredients and gently stir until combined. Next, add oil and stir until combined.
3
Finally add grated carrot, very well drained pineapple and walnuts, gently fold through until combined, don't over mix the batter.
Tip: squeeze as much of excess pineapple juice into colander/strainer as possible.
4
Pour batter into a very well greased, round, springform, 22cm, cake tin. Cook for approximately 1 hour (although check after 45 minutes).
Cake is cooked when golden brown on top and cooked in the centre.
5
Carefully remove the cake from the tin. Don't place the cake on a wire rack - place directly on the cake plate (this traps the steam & helps keeps the cake extra moist).
Allow the cake to completely cool and cover with icing.
6
Method for the Frosting:
Place all the 'frosting' ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl.
7
Use an electric hand mix to thoroughly combine (slightly whip) all the ingredients. Mix until mixture is smooth.
Tips
*Use California walnuts, available in all supermarkets next to cooking walnuts (they don't have a bitter aftertaste).
*Double all ingredients for a great celebration cake.
*To check if cake is cooked in the centre; run a clean knife into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean, cake is cooked. If it comes out with batter on it, cake needs to go back in to cook longer.