Best-ever carrot cake

What better than a slice of carrot cake for the back to school lunchbox? Vitamin A from carrots is wonderful for eyesight and general health. The cream cheese icing is a must. Also try this recipe as mini cakes for a dessert with a kiwiana twist.

Course Dessert
Servings 8 people

Ingredients
 
 

  • ¾ cup self raising flour
  • ¾ cup wholemeal flour
  • 1 tsp mixed spice
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground ginger
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 cup caster sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 1 cup Olivado Macadamia Nut Oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence
  • ¾ cup chopped walnuts
  • 2 cups grated carrot
  • ½ cup sultanas or raisins
  • 2 tbsp desiccated coconut

Cream cheese Icing

  • 125 g cream cheese softened
  • 50 g butter softened
  • 2 ½ cups icing sugar
  • Nuts and craisins to garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 180°C.
  • Sift flours, spices and soda into a large mixing bowl.
  • Add all remaining ingredients and stir with a wooden spoon until just combined, don’t beat.
  • Grease well or line a 20–23 cm cake or ring tin (6 cm deep) with baking paper. Pour cake mixture into the prepared tin and smooth the surface. Bake for one hour (or until it springs back)
  • Remove your carrot cake from the oven and leave to cool for 10 minutes before peeling away baking paper if using. Turn out your cake onto a wire rack.
  • While the cake is cooling, make the cream cheese icing. Beat all ingredients together until you get a smooth frosting consistency.
  • Spread over the top of the carrot cake. Decorate with chopped hazelnuts and a collection of dried fruits (eg. raisins, sultanas, dried cranberries or currants). Or even more walnuts!

Notes

Extra Carrot Cake hints:
- The best way to check your cake is cooked is to insert a skewer in to the centre of the cake and if it comes out clean, take it out of the oven.
- 3/4 cup of chopped walnuts is one 70g bag of walnut pieces from the supermarket.
-1 cup of grated carrot is one peeled, large carrot.
- We very lightly beat the eggs before adding to the mixture.
- We love making the ring cake version as it cooks faster. Perfect for a high tea.
 
Remember to share this online with the hashtag carrot cake recipe nz, i.e. #carrotcakerecipenz
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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