Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Carrot Cake Delight

Hi! As of this moment I am very, very much craving some sort of sweet pastry thing, so ideas are racing through my head as to what to bake next. Considering that school will start soon I should really get a move on baking the items that are on my list. List? You may ask, yes LIST I have a list -__-

However, I think right now I'll settle for a peach or a banana while I indulge you with my delicious carrot cake recipe.


                          (Carrot cake squares topped with sugar-free frosting and graham crackers)

Happy baking!

*Don't forget you can add raisins, pecans, or even chocolate chips if you'd like to this recipe :)

Carrot Cake Delight

Ingredients


  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 teaspoon  salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 3 sticks unsalted butter 
  • 1 cup packed light-brown sugar OR 1/2 cup of Splenda brown sugar blend (I used this one)
  •  3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 carrots peeled and shredded on a box grater (about 1 cup)
  • Sugar free frosting
  • Graham crackers (crushed; I used the non-sugary ones with no sugar--just plain)

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 2 cake pans.Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and nutmeg.
Beat butter and sugars with a mixer on medium speed until pale and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat for at least 3 minutes. Add vanilla, water, and carrots. Beat until well combined, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to low, and add flour mixture.

Scrape batter into prepared pans, dividing evenly. Bake, rotating pans halfway through, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean, about 30 minutes. Let cool in pans for 10-15 minutes. Run a knife around edges of cakes to loosen, and let cool completely.

 In the mean time place some graham crackers in a plastic zip-lock baggie and crush them. 

Cut cake into evenly (I tried but failed) pieces. Once you have your cake cut into squares spread some frosting over each piece and with a spoon top with graham cracker crumbs.