Tags: cookery school, cooking classes, Italian cooking, learn to cook, pasta making
Share this post:
This week there was a choice between our own abundant yellow courgetts and the bunches of sweet carrots grown locally in Clonakilty. I put it to a vote and it was 70:30 in favour of Carrot Cake so here goes….
I can’t believe I haven’t shared my recipe here before! I call it the Ultimate Carrot Cake as it has so many delicious ingredients in the mix. I use freshly grated carrots, dried fruit, coconut and lots of delicious spices, making the place smell divine as the cake cooks.
With all those wholesome ingredients in the mix, I just have to add my favourite Cream Cheese Frosting. Sure look, there’s no better day to treat yourself than a Monday in my humble opinion 😉
Kela x
Food & Recipes
Monday 28th June 2021
by Kela Hodgins
Ingredients:
- 400g grated carrots
- 280g plain flour
- 1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 250g caster sugar
- 200g soft light brown sugar
- 300ml sunflower oil
- 4 large free range eggs, beaten
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- Finely grated zest of 1 orange
- 150g dessicated coconut
- 150g chopped apricots or luxury mix dried fruit
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 180g Light cream cheese (I use Philadelphia)
- 180g Butter, room temperature
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 300g icing sugar sifted
- Chopped walnuts to decorate, if desired
Method:
- Preheat oven to 170C and grease well two 20cm round sandwich tins. Line the base with baking parchment.
- In a large bowl add the flour, sifted baking powder & bicarbonate soda and the spices, then whisk together to combine well.
- In another large bowl beat together with a wooden spoon until well mixed the sugar, oil, beaten eggs, vanilla, zest, coconut, dried fruit and grated carrot.
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet mix, combine well then divide between the two prepared tins.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 40 – 45 minutes, a skewer inserted into the middle should come out clean.
- Leave to cool in the tins, then remove to a wire rack until totally cooled.
- To make the frosting, beat with an elctric mixer the cheese, butter, vanilla and icing sugar until thick and smooth.
- To assemble, place one layer on a plate, cover with half the frosting then place the other cake layer on top. Carefully spread the remaining frosting over the top, scatter over the walnuts if using.
