Basic Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

Adapted from Joy of Cooking.

Total time: About 2 hours.

2 large carrots (2 cups grated carrots)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional)

Preheat oven to 325F.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices, set aside. Grate your carrots using the small holes on the cheese grater (if you haven’t already).

Cream together oil and sugar until slightly fluffy. Add eggs and mix until smooth. Slowly add flour mixture and mix until smooth. Add grated carrots, nuts and coconut (if using) and combine well.

Bake in a greased pan for 60-80 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out mostly clean.

Frosting: estimated 1:4:1 mix of cream cheese, powdered sugar and brown sugar, plus 1 tsp vanilla extract

I put my pecans on top instead of inside the cake. And yes, I served this for breakfast. It actually tasted better chilled (and the frosting set beautifully).