Two Layer Carrot Cake

Click HERE to watch the YouTube video!

This is my "go to" carrot cake recipe. It's about as no fail as you can get! Because you make it in a 13x9 pan, you can either serve it as a single layer cake, or do as I've done with mine and turn it into a fun two layer cake. The bonus of making the two layer is the "cake cast-offs" that became the Easy Peasy Cream Cheesy Carrot Icebox Cake that I made HERE

*This is a Cook's Illustrated recipe- a simply wonderful magazine and resource!

THE CAKE

INGREDIENTS:

2 12/ cups all purpose four

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/8 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. salt

7 medium carrots peeled and shredded

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar (packed)

4 lg. eggs

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

HOW TO:

1.) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F

2.) Spray 13x9" pan with baking spray (or butter it), line with parchment paper, then spray again

3.) Shred your carrots, either with a food processor or by hand. I like a finer shred personally. You want about 3 cups shredded

4.) Using your food processor or stand mixer, mix the white and brown sugars and eggs until well mixed, about 30 seconds

5.) Whisk together all your dry ingredients including spices

6.) With the machine running, pour the oil in a thin stream into the mixture. Once it's all added mix for an additional 30 seconds

7.) Pour the wet mixture into a large bowl and add the carrots and dry ingredients and mix by hand (using a wooden spoon) until you see no flour streaks

8.) Pour into prepared pan and bake for 40-45 minutes until toothpick comes out clean, let cool completely before icing

CREAM CHEESE ICING

INGREDIENTS:

1 package cream cheese (225 grams/ 8 oz)

5 tbsp. unsalted butter room temp.

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 1/4 cups icing sugar

HOW TO:

1.) Cream the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until smooth

2.) Add the icing sugar gradually, mix until creamy and smooth

3.) Spread icing on top if doing the single layer cake, watch the YouTube video for instructions on doing the 2 layer cake.

*I would make a double batch of icing next time making the 2 layer cake, I found I didn't have quite as much icing as I would have liked