Carrot cake

Few years back, if someone would have tested my baking knowledge. A cake consisted: flour, sugar, butter, eggs and a leavening agent. It was only a basic vanilla cake or a brown chocolate cake. My poor knowledge is justified because I was grown up in baking- free environment. Even, the microwave or convention-oven were not much commercialized to the consumer market. If someone had an oven that could have been only a fancy kitchen gadget.
After moving to US, I got fascinated with the carrot cake. My first thought was: someone did a spring cleaning in pantry and fridge or wanted the veggie and fruits serving in form of dessert! Whatever reason, this carrot cake is served in my son's school cafeteria. He simply adores the warm spices and rich caramelized color. And  he insisted to bake this carrot cake. I settled with this one for the first trial but he hated the pineapple pieces and raisins. He wanted a customized version without raisins and pineapple. I halved the recipe enough for a small family, skipped an egg. I would strongly suggest to try with raisins and pineapple - and modified according your likes later. This one works well Eggless too replace the egg with 1/4 cup of applesauce.






Carrot Cake



Ingredients:
  •  All-purpose flour: 1 cup
  •  Baking soda: 1 tsp
  •  Baking powder: 1/2 tsp
  •  Salt: 1/2 tsp
  •  Ground cinnamon: 1 tsp
  •  Nutmeg: 1/2 tsp
  •  White sugar: 3/4 cup
  •  Vegetable oil: 1/4 cup
  •  Applesauce: 1/4 cup+ 2 tbsp
  •  1 egg* 
  •  Vanilla extract: 1/2 tsp
  •  Shredded carrots: 1 cup
  •  Chopped walnuts: 1/2 cup
  •  Raisins: 1/2 cup (I omitted)
  •  4 ounces or 1/4 cup  crushed pineapple, drained (I omitted)
Try with raisins and pineapple this cake
    * 1 Egg can be replaced with 1/4 cup of applesauce for Eggless version

    Frosting

    1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese (fat free works fine)
    1/2 cup confectioners sugar
    Garnish: shredded carrot or chopped walnuts


    Instructions:

    • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a square pan or one 9 inch round pan.
    • Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon. Make a
      well in the center and add sugar, oil, apple sauce, egg and vanilla. Mix with
      wooden spoon until smooth.  Stir in carrots, walnut,
      raisins (if used) and pineapple (if used).
    • Pour into 9 inch pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 to 35
      minutes. Allow to cool in wire rack. 
       
      To make the frosting:
      • Cream the cheese until smooth. Add the
        confectioners sugar and beat until creamy.


      Comments

      Priya Suresh said…
      Wat a great looking carrot cake, seriously wish to have it rite now..yummy..
      Vineetha Sush said…
      first time in ur space..ccarrt cake loves delicious..yet to try this cake..Glad to follow u :)
      Lena Jayadev said…
      woww.. awesome Cham.. i think nowadays noone is making cake with butter.. this is ahealthy recipe.. :)
      Raks said…
      I have never tasted a carrot cake, but wish to, sounds and looks way too tempting!
      Finla said…
      I love carrot cake especially the frosting, my mom had a oven but then that was a basic one it looked like a huge tiffin box with a glass lid :-) but she used to make cakes in them and cookies.
      love the carrot cake... would love a bite too...
      Sumi said…
      Wow, Delicious Cake, I would want to make it with Pineapple:) Its been a long time since I baked a Carrot cake, I will go with this version. why hunt for the recipe in the net when we have a foolproof one :)
      Bong Mom said…
      Looks really moist. Can I replace apple sauce by something like egg ?
      Cham said…
      Sandeepa: Replace the applesauce amount with one egg.
      Lovely Carrot Cake !! Looks so moist..I would love to have it right now !!
      Vikis Kitchen said…
      Baking a perfect cake was a distant dream to me also till I came here. Though tried using a stove top cake baker (u may have heard about that sand oven) , my cakes are realistic after coming here only:) Your carrot cake looks so yummy. It's my favorite always.
      Harini said…
      My children too hate raisins or nuts in carrot cake, though it seems acceptable in halwa!:) The slices look very pretty and tasty. I like how you have arranged a carrot and mint on top. Beautiful!
      Unknown said…
      Love that crumble texture looks so moist too yummy looking cake cham.
      Unknown said…
      Cake looks pretty Cham. Love the simple decoration on top!
      lubnakarim06 said…
      Wow....cake looks extremely yum...i love flavored cakes...
      Pavani said…
      grt presentation n soft n delicious carrot cake.
      notyet100 said…
      Mmmm this looks delicious,lub the new look of ur blog,..