Carrot Cake / Cream Cheese Frosting

This was my dessert for Easter this year and it was yummy.  I have made this cake for years, but when it came down to making it this year, I couldn’t find my recipe.  So I tried a new recipe from America’s Test Kitchen.  This might be my new favorite, especially the frosting.  It isn’t as sweet as the normal cream cheese frosting.

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 1/4 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/8 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 lb. carrots, peeled and grated (3 cups)
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable, canola or safflower oil

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese, softened but still cool (Do not use low-fat)
• 5 tablespoons butter, softened but still cool
• 1 tablespoon sour cream
• 3/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cups confectioners’ sugar (8-oz. sifted)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9′ x 13′ cake pan with nonstick cooking spray.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in large bowl; set aside.

In bowl of mixer, beat both sugars and eggs on medium-high until thoroughly combined, about 45 seconds.  Reduce speed to low; with mixer running, add oil in slow, steady stream.  When all is incorporated, increase speed to high and mix until mixture is light in color and well emulsified, about 45 seconds to 1 minute longer.  Turn off mixer and stir in carrots and dry ingredients by hand until incorporated and no streaks of flour remain.  Pour into prepared pan and bake until toothpick or skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking time.  Cool cake to room temperature in pan on wire rack, about 2 hours.

When cake is cool, mix cream cheese, butter, sour cream, and vanilla at medium high speed in clean bowl of mixer fitted with whisk attachment until well combined, about 30 seconds, scraping down bowl with rubber spatula as needed.  Add confectioners’ sugar and mix until very fluffy, about 1 minute.

Frost your cake and enjoy!

Note:  If you like nuts in your cake, stir 1 1/2 cups toasted chopped pecans or walnuts into the batter along with the carrots.  Raisins are also a good addition; 1 cup can be added along with the carrots.  If you add both nuts and raisins, the cake with need an additional 10 to 12 minutes in the oven.

“To master temptation, let Christ master you.”

Famous Banana Cake with Brown Sugar Frosting

This cake is outstanding!  This recipe came from an old Iowa cookbook.  I have been making it for years.

• 1 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas, about 2
• 2 1/4 cups sifted cake flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream together the sugar and butter.  When mixture is light and fluffy, add the eggs and continue beating until smooth.  Dissolve the baking soda in the buttermilk and stir into batter.  Add bananas, cake flour, and vanilla.  Mix well and pour into two greased and floured 8-inch pans or one 9 x 13-inch pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 to 45 minutes.   Frost cake with Brown Sugar Frosting.

Makes about 12 – 15 servings.

Brown Sugar  Frosting

• 3 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• Dash of salt

Heat brown sugar, butter, and cream together over low heat, stirring, until well blended and sugar is dissolved.  Remove from heat and stir in remaining ingredients, using enough powdered sugar to make it spreading consistency.  When smooth and creamy, frost the cake.

“The state of our heart is more important than the size of our gift.”