Homemade Carrot Cake
This recipe comes from Miranda from My Anosmic Kitchen. Miranda has a vast range of recipes for people affected by anosmia on her website, please click the link provided to access: https://myanosmickitchen.com/
Furthermore, Miranda has her own YouTube channel, which will hopefully support and provide you with information about how to get the most from food while experiencing a smell disorder. Please click the link provided to access her channel and let her know you came from us! – We hope you enjoy the recipe below and please let us know your thoughts at info@fifthsense.org.uk
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Carrot cake that’s fragrantly spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and topped with a mascarpone cheese frosting. The dates and ginger add incredible flavor!
INGREDIENTS
- 200 grams Brown sugar (1 cup)
- 100 grams Castor sugar (1/2 cups)
- 1 cup Vegetable oil, canola
- 2 Tsps Baking powder
- 1 Tsp Bicarb
- 2 Tsps Cinnamon
- 1/4 Tsp Nutmeg
- 1/2 cup Walnuts (leave a little for the topping)
- 50 grams Dates, chopped into small pieces
- 1/2 cup Seedless raisin mix
- 325 grams Flour (2 1/2 cups)
- 3 cups Grated carrots
- 2 Tbsps cake flour
- 2 Tsps Vanilla essence
- 1 Tsp Fine salt
Frosting
- 250 grams Mascarpone cream cheese
- 1 1/2 cups Icing Sugar
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream (add a tablespoon if you like it a bit more smooth & creamy)
- 1/4 cup roughly chopped walnuts & crystalized ginger for topping (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 177 Degrees Celsius.
- Prepare two 20cm tins by spraying them both with cooking/baking spray, line them with baking paper and another quick spray on top.
- Into the 1st bowl if mixing by hand or into the cake stand bowl add the castor sugar, brown sugar, oil, essence, eggs and mix on low speed. Set aside.
- In another bowl over a sift add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, bicarb, nutmeg and salt. Sift gradually and then with the mixer on low add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
- In another bowl add the grated carrots, raisins, dates, nuts, ginger and the flour. Pour it into the cake batter and use a spatula to mix thoroughly.
- Divide the batter into the prepared tins trying to get an equal amount in both.
- Bake at 177 Degrees Celsius for about 30 minutes and you can see the top of the cakes are set. At 25 minutes check the cakes by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake, if it comes out clean take them out to cool. If the toothpick is still slightly damp give them another 5 minutes.
- Cook the cakes, remove the baking paper and move them to a cooking rack to cool further.
- While the cakes cool, make the frosting.
Frosting
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In the bowl of a cake mixer or in a mixing bowl with an electric mixer beat the mascarpone cheese for a few seconds. Add the icing sugar using low speed and add it gradually (so it doesn’t splatter everywhere). Beat till smooth for about a minute.
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Add the cream and vanilla essence and beat for a few more seconds.
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Finish off with the ginger pieces if adding any.
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Use a cake knife or spoon to level half the frosting on one cake, place the 2nd cake on top, more frosting/icing and finish off with nuts and minced or crushed crystallized ginger.
NOTES
When To Take The Cakes Out
Check the cakes with a toothpick 5 minutes before the time. Place the toothpick in the middle, if it comes out clean take them out to cool but if the toothpick is even slightly damp leave them the remaining 5 minutes.
Is Baking Paper Necessary?
After all ingredients and time to bring everything together imagine not being able to get the cake out of the tin? Yes, cooking spray and baking paper is my suggestion.