Rustic Carrot Cake

Here is a wonderful carrot cake recipe, it is originally a food network springtime carrot cake recipe found through my Tastebook ipod app. I have changed things up a bit to make it more rustic and hearty.

 It was for my brothers 24th birthday and it was so delicious.

 So find someone you know who needs a cake and try this one!!

Let me know what you think.....

Loves all, SMK

Ingredients

1/2 cup grated carrots

2 cups unbleached all purpose flour

1/4 pineapple finely diced

1 cup walnuts

1/2 cup raisins

1 1/2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp fine salt

1/4 cup olive oil

1/2 cup room temperature butter

Preheat oven to 350, butter 2 8 in square pans, line with buttered parchment paper (this makes the cake easier to move and gives it a rustic look) sprinkle with flour and set aside.

Toss the carrots, walnuts, pineapple and raisins with 1/2 cup of flour in small bowl and set aside.

Whisk the remaining flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a small bowl and set aside.

In a large bowl beat together the eggs and sugar together with an electric mixer until thick and light, about 5 minutes. While continuing to beat slowly add in oil and room temperature butter until smooth. Fold in the fruit and nut mixture,and slowly fold in dry ingredients. Pour equal parts of batter into prepared pans and bake for 30 minutes.

While the cake is baking you can make the icing and candied carrot strips.

Ingredients

1 large carrot

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup water

cinnamon stick

1/2 tsp nutmeg

Peel carrots and cut into very thin strips, boil with the water sugar and spices until liquid thickens, remove strips from mixture and form into any shape, let rest on plate.

2 packages room temperature cream cheese

4 tbsp room temperature butter

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese in large bowl until smooth, add in butter and vanilla and beat until smooth, sift in and beat powdered sugar by the half cups until all mixed in.

After cakes are cooled place bottom cake down and frost the top portion, add on second cake and frost the top place on candied carrots as you like .

ENJOY!!!