Gingered Carrot Cake
Talk about charisma! Carrot cake has been charming dessert lovers since the 1960s. This recipe surprises with dried fruit bits and grated fresh ginger.
Prep Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
2 hrs
Servings:
12 to 15 servings
Ingredients
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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2 cups granulated sugar
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2 teaspoons baking powder
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1/2 teaspoon baking soda
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4 beaten eggs
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3 cups finely shredded carrot
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3/4 cup cooking oil
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3/4 cup mixed dried fruit bits
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2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger or 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
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6 ounces cream cheese, softened
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1/2 cup margarine or butter, softened
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1 tablespoon apricot brandy or orange juice
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4-1/2 to 4-3/4 cups sifted powdered sugar
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1/2 teaspoon finely shredded orange peel
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1 cup toasted, finely chopped pecans (optional)
Directions
1.
Combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
2.
Combine eggs, carrot, oil, dried fruit, and ginger. Stir egg mixture into flour mixture. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9x1-1/2-inch* round baking pans.
3.
Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans. Cool thoroughly on wire racks.
4.
Beat together cream cheese, margarine or butter, and apricot brandy or orange juice. Gradually beat in enough of the powdered sugar to make frosting easy to spread. Stir in orange peel.
5.
Frost the top of 1 cake layer with cream cheese mixture. Top with remaining layer. Frost the top and sides. Press nuts on sides of the cake, if desired. Store cake in the refrigerator. Makes 12 to 15 servings.
Note
Your 9-inch round cake pans need to be at least 1-1/2 inches deep or the batter may flow over the sides of the pans when baking.
Tip
You also can use one 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake about 40 minutes or until done. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting (you may have a little left over).
To Make-Ahead
Up to 1 day ahead, make, bake, cool, and frost cake. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
Nutrition information
Calories 581, Total Fat 28 g, Saturated Fat 7 g, Cholesterol 87 mg, Sodium 282 mg, Carbohydrate 79 g, Fiber 1 g, Protein 6 g. Daily Values: Vitamin A 97%, Vitamin C 5%, Calcium 7%, Iron 11%.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
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