What’s your favorite kind of cake? One of my favorites is this Carrot Cake with, of course, cream cheese frosting. Actually, I love all cakes…especially when it’s topped with a delicious buttercream frosting! And I’m not even opposed to the boxed cakes. They’re easy to make and taste great. I grew up on them. I even used to make my own birthday cakes with them. I guess my mom figured if I wanted to bake it myself then why not let me do it? BTW, she also let me wrap my own Christmas presents!
On the rare occasion I bake a cake from scratch it’s usually to make this carrot cake. Or my Black Russian Cake, but maybe that doesn’t count because it starts with a cake mix. Seriously, this is one delicious carrot cake recipe if I do say so myself! I have no idea where the recipe came from, but it’s one I’ve been making for 30+ years.
This carrot cake is a little dense but very moist. In addition to the grated carrots, this cake has crushed pineapple, raisins and nuts. And what’s a carrot cake without the cream cheese frosting? I don’t know because I’ve never had it that way! And the secret to really good cream cheese frosting…a little bit of hot coffee.
Yummmmm….. dig in! It might not last long!
- 4 eggs
- 2 C. sugar
- 1⅓ C. oil
- 2 C. flour
- 2 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. salt
- 2 tsp. cinnamon
- (optional - add a bit of nutmeg and cloves)
- 3 C. grated carrots
- ½ C. chopped walnuts
- ½ C. raisins
- 8 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained
- ¼ C. butter, softened
- 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1 lb. powdered sugar
- 1 Tbls. hot coffee
- For the Cake:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Cream together the eggs and sugar. Add oil and blend a bit more on medium speed. Then add flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon (and nutmeg/cloves if desired). Beat a few minutes more. Then stir in the carrots, nuts, raisins, and pineapple.
- Pour batter in two round cake pans (greased or sprayed with Pam) and bake 30-45 minutes. Start checking your cakes after 30 minutes, every oven is different. When done, remove and cool.
- For the Frosting:
- Combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla in a bowl and beat on medium speed until creamy. Add sugar and coffee and continue to beat to incorporate. If too thick, add a bit more coffee. If too thin, add a bit more powdered sugar.
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Wow, no wonder I let you bake your own birthday cakes. You surpassed your mama long, long ago. XO
You know my secret reason for making them was being able to have the bowl all to myself to lick!