Cake #5-Carrot Cake

I missed baking a cake last week.  Just too much going on and just did not have the money for the ingredients.  This week however, I made a delicious Carrot Cake.  Now I am not much on Carrot cake because well, who puts carrots in a cake?  That is just much too healthy, although I have to say that this is probably NOT a healthy cake, but it sure tastes good.  Even looks pretty.

 

 

 

 

Carrot Cake with Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

Cake

1 pound carrots, finely grated

3 large eggs, room temperature

2 c. sugar

1 1/2 c. canola oil

1/3 c. buttermilk

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. all-purpose flour

1 c. whole wheat flour

1 tsp. baking soda

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. ground ginger

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

Frosting

2 sticks of unsalted butter (room temperature)

16 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

dash of sea salt

3-4 c. powdered sugar

Garnish

1/4 c. shredded coconut, toasted

Instructions

1.       Cake. Preheat oven to 350°. Line two 9" round cake pans with parchment paper. Whisk together carrots, eggs, sugar, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. (To grate carrots, use grater, VitaMix, or foor processor.)

2.       In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and spices. Stir flour mixture into carrot mixture until well combined.

3.       Distribute batter evenly between the pans. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool completely before icing. To remove cake from pan, loosen edges with an offset spatula and discard parchment paper.

4.       Frosting. Place one stick of butter in a small saucepan. Cook on medium-high heat until butter is browned, about 5 minutes. Pour into small bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes to cool.

5.       Once cooled, cream together browned butter, regular butter, and cream cheese until smooth. Add vanilla extract and salt. Mix.

6.       Add powdered sugar one cup at a time. Mix well between each addition. After 3 cups, taste to see if additional sugar is necessary.

7.       Assembly. Place bottom layer of cake on cake stand, leveling the top if necessary. Add a layer of icing. Place second layer on top, leveling if necessary. Dirty ice the cake. Place in refrigerator for 20 minutes to chill. Finish icing the rest of the cake using an offset spatula. Using the back of a spoon, drag circles in the top of the cake for the swirl effect.

8.       Garnish. Sprinkle with toasted coconut if desired.

9.       Refrigerate. Serve cake at room temperature.

Another part of the weekend was going to Lanie's school for the Open House.  It is a very cool school.  They are in what used to be a rectory so it is small.  There are 4 classrooms-all kindergarten classes.  The Principal gave us the tour and said it was very "High Tech".  They have IPODS for each kid so they all learn to use them. School starts August 12.  Now the only problem is whether she will be able to use the Adams name or if she will have to stay with Jaquez.  I am hoping to have all the money together to at least start the process so that we will have gotten through the Custody hearing part.  If we at least have that portion done, she can start as Alannah Adams.  I am still about $300 short for that.  My attorney should be back in town in a week or so and I hope that we will get a court date in July but that means I have to come up with that other $300 by then.  Also, if anyone has any connections with people who do Home Studies, please contact me with that information as I will need to schedule one of those too!

 

Have a great week!