Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Tall, Sweet, with a touch of cinnamon spice. This cake is a perfect Spring dessert.

 

Ingredients

Cake:

• Cooking spray
• 2 cups of pecan halves
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Kosher salt
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 cups finely grated carrots (about 1 pound carrots)
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Frosting:

• 1 pound cream cheese, cut into cubes, at room temperature
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, cut into cubes, at room temperature
• 2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• Kosher salt
• 1/4 cup heavy cream, cold

Directions

For the cake:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line two 9-inch round cake pans with parchment and lightly coat with cooking spray.
• Spread the pecans on a rimmed baking sheet and toast until lightly brown and fragrant, 7 minutes.
• Set aside 12 pecan halves to decorate the finished cake; chop the remaining pecans.
• Set aside 1 cup of the chopped pecans to use in the batter; reserve the rest for decorating the finished cake.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl.
• Whisk together the eggs and granulated sugar in a large bowl until smooth, about 1 minute. Whisk in the oil until well combined. Add the grated carrots, vanilla and 1 cup chopped pecans, and mix well. Add the dry ingredients, and stir until just combined. Divide the batter evenly between the prepared pans.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and the cakes are nicely browned, about 30 minutes.
• Let cool on a cooling rack for 10 minutes. Loosen the edges with a spatula, turn the cakes out and let cool completely, right-side up, on the cooling rack, about 2 hours. Remove the parchment before frosting.

For the frosting:

• Beat the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, scraping down the side as necessary, until smooth, about 2 minutes.
• Add the confectioners’ sugar, vanilla, and 1/2 teaspoon salt; gradually increase the mixer speed to medium-high, and beat until the sugar is incorporated and the frosting is fluffy and smooth, about 3 minutes.
• With the mixer on medium-high, add the cream a few drops at a time until it’s all incorporated.
• Continue beating for 1 more minute until the frosting is slightly lighter in color and creamy.

To assemble:

• Place one of the cake layers on a serving plate, and spread 1 cup of the frosting over the top.
• Top with the other layer, and use the remaining frosting to frost the top and sides of the cake.
• Arrange the 12 whole pecans on top of the cake like the numbers on a clock face, and sprinkle the remaining chopped pecans in between.

 

Source: www.foodnetwork.com