Carrot Cake

Well, this recipe, the best carrot cake recipe ever, is about 30 years old. What reminded me about my 30 year old carrot cake recipe is this video ( https://youtu.be/RSRlCwgicyU ). Yes, carrot cake can be an uninteresting oddly textured cake. However, this carrot cake has a secret ingredient, crushed pineapple, that keeps the cake moist. Interestingly, the key moisture enhancing ingredient in many carrot cake recipes is a boatload of oil but pineapple provides the moisture and a hint of sweetness, without the artery clogging oil.

And the cream cheese icing, on many carrot cakes, it’s the only thing I end up liking. So, for this recipe, I’ve included my recipe for the always delicious cream cheese frosting. But trust me here, this recipe is just as good, and maybe even better, without the cream cheese icing.

With or without frosting, after tasting this carrot cake, no one will ever again ‘want to be a carrot cake because no one will eat them’ :). ( https://youtu.be/RSRlCwgicyU )

Carrot Cake

Special Note: It’s easiest to get all the ingredients together and organized before combining the ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 eggs

• 1c sugar

• 1c flour

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 3/4 tsp baking soda

• 1 tbsp cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp salt

• 1c grated carrot

• 1/2c crushed pineapple

• 1/4c oil (Optional - the oil makes a ‘lighter/springier’ cake)

• 1/2 tsp vanilla

  Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8oz full fat cream cheese

• 4 tbsp icing sugar

• 1 tbsp vanilla

Instructions:

1. Grease ( I used butter) a square or round 8” cake pan. Set aside.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3. Gather all ingredients together and grate carrot.

4. Beat eggs and sugar until frothy.

5. Stir together dry ingredients and sift into the above.

6. Stir until just combined.

7. Add grated carrot, crushed pineapple and vanilla, beat until combined.

8. Pour into prepared pan and bake until done - 30 - 40 minutes (until cake springs back when touched in center or inserted toothpick in center comes out clean). Cool slightly and then invert onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.

   Cream Cheese Frosting:

9. Whip cream cheese

10. Add icing sugar and vanilla.

11. Whip all together and spread on cooled cake.