Monday, May 17, 2010

Carrot Cake

The best carrot cake I've ever had was made by a German woman who confided that the secret to a good carrot cake is...pineapple.  Pineapple?  I didn't even notice it in her cake, but it truly is the secret.  That and a good cream cheese frosting.  Here you go!


4 eggs, well beaten
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1 1/2 c vegetable oil
2 c. flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
3 c. finely grated carrots
1 c. coconut
1 8 oz. can crushed pineapple
1 c. golden raisins (opt)
1 c. walnuts, coarsely chopped (opt)

Preheat oven to 325.  Oil 3 8" cake pans (I just used a Bundt) Set out 1/2 c. butter and 1 8oz cream cheese to soften (for frosting).  Put pineapple in a strainer to drain.  Beat eggs in a large bowl.  Add sugars and beat till light and fluffy.  Add oil and mix well with whisk.  Put in the dry ingredients and beat till smooth.  Stir in remaining ingredients and pour batter into oiled layer pans.  Bake for 40 minutes or until knife comes out clean when inserted in center of cake.  Cool slightly and frost.

Frosting:
1/2 c. butter
8 oz. cream cheese
2 c. powdered sugar
3 tsp vanilla
Mix together till smooth. Frost between layers and on top  Try toasted coconut for decoration.

7 comments:

melissa said...

Yay! Thanks, Jen. This looks really good. Happy Birthday to Miles.

allyn said...

yayay!!! aron LOVES carrot cake. now i will have a good one for his birthday. thanks, man.

Nicole said...

It's really pineapple? Can't it be pineapple juice? Man!

Mom said...

Relax, Nicole - the pineapple bakes in so you don't know it's there, but it really is the secret. The best carrot cake I've ever tasted was one with pineapple in it. I have the recipe somewhere (I hope). Thanks for this one! (Carrot cake is also Dad's favorite.)

melissa said...

I really liked this and barely noticed the pineapple. The frosting is really rich! (In the best way, of course.)

Kathiey's World said...

Sounds good, I will have to give it a try:-)

Kathiey's World said...

Sounds good, I will have to give it a try:-)