It was my Mother-In-Laws Birthday and her favorite cake is Carrot Cake. And golly gee wilikers, I would not let her down. I had never make a carrot cake before. Now I didn’t say anything about never eating one. I have eaten my fair share of carrot cakes. I have a trophy to prove it( again, in my head).
This carrot cake is utterly amazing. Super moist but also super messy. Certainly not a clean cutting cake. But do you really care what it looks like cut? I mean besides the photo? It’s going in my belly, and my belly doesn’t have eyes.
I wanted a maple cream cheese frosting. And there only seemed to be one recipe floating out in foodland. But I wanted to add something extra to it (ya know, the rebel in me). So I beat up 3/4 cup whipping cream and folded it into the finished frosting. Changed the measurments and added some vanilla. mmmmmm. That’s all I have to say about that.
And aren’t my carrots the cutest ever? I used a 50/50 mix of fondant and gum paste. Rolled the up into carrot shapes and scored them for the realistic look. I also “painted” them with some brown food paste mixed with vodka to give them some shading.
MAPLE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
About 3/4 pound carrots
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
4 large eggs
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1/2 cup walnuts,toasted and chopped
Put a rack in middle of oven and preheat oven to 350F. Butter and flour cake pans. Or better yet, use parchment paper in the bottom of you pan and also butter and flour.
1. Shred the carrots..about 2 cups.
2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon into a large bowl. Stir in sugar, oil, eggs, carrots, pineapple, coconut and walnuts.
3. Divide batter between cake pans and bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of cakes comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Cool layers in pans on a rack for 5 minutes, invert layers onto rack to cool completely.
Those carrots are amazing! I'm so impressed!
Those are some adorable little carrots, there! LOVE Carrot cake.
Male cream cheese frosting? What a great idea! I LOVE carrot cake! Those fondant carrots are very cool! That would be a great Thanksgiving treat. Maybe I'll try it out on the fam : )
Love your cake and fondant carrots! I had so much fun making marzipan carrots for Easter. Also love that you used vodka to paint the carrots 🙂
the carrots are cute and quite realistic, leslie, but i can’t even look at them for more than 0.1 second. i ADORE carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, and your maple twist excites me no end.
how long did it take to make those perfect little carrots? I bet that would have taken me days. and yes you're right any cake with carrots in it is healthy.
haaaaayy
Your carrots are very nicely done!
I've got a bunch of carrots and have been contemplating making a carrot cake. I think this is the push I needed!
~ingrid
Oh Leslie that is just the bee's knees! Now you have to sculpt a rabbits out stretched arm from beyond the screen coming over the side of the cake for me!
Carrot cake is my favorite, hands down I would kill for one! My birthday was in June and I did not get carrot cake 🙁 …next year?
DARLING carrot cake 🙂 I love the carrots 😀
I get really excited when I see people make carrot cake with pineapple! Gorgeous!
ohh…those carrots are adorable! Im not huge on carrot cake but have always wanted to make one. Looks good!
love those cutie little carrots..
Carrot cake is my favorite too so I'm drooling over here! Your little carrots are too cute!
Yum. Love carrot cake. Just thinking about it makes me see better.
Your mother-in-law must have loved her birthday cake! It looks sooooo good. Moist, dark and delcious. You did a super job with the carrots! (vodka?)
Looks delicious! And the carrots are too cute!
The carrots are adorable and add so to the cake.
The inside of the cake looks great to me, perhaps because it is going to be crumbly,
Adorable!!
Chocolate would win, but carrot cake is definitely great too. Those carrots are adorable and I love the line about the parties in your head 😉
OH LES!!! Gorgeous!!! that is a Leslie Loves Veggies Cake!! It Matches my Blog!!! hahaha
It it FABU!!! So pretty!!! You never cease to amaze me Mama!!!
YAY YOU!!
Hope your feeling up to par by now!
Hugs,
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/
I am totally impressed by those carrots! Carrot cake is so decadent and just delicious. I have no doubt that your mother in law was quite happy!
Your carrots are indeed the cutest ever, and I love the jazzed up frosintg.
Great job on your carrots. Maple cream cheese frosting sounds like just the ticket for carrot cake.
Mimi
What a great recipe! And those small carrots give this cake such an adorable look! 🙂
Sounds gooood! I make carrot cake every year for Thanksgiving and I think I will give your maple cream cheese frosting a try, it sounds delicious!
I love carrot cake and this is so beautiful!
To show my appreciation for your support, please pick the Award from my place.
What a beautiful cake!!
Vodka?? Are you sure those went on the baby carrots? LOL
I loved your post – I'm grinning from ear to ear as usual. I have parties in my head too!
All joking aside, this cake looks wonderful! My hubby is a huge fan of carrot cakes…he would adore this!
Beautiful!
LOVE CARROT CAKE. Those little carrots are perfect. Your mother-in-law is lucky!
I love carrot cake and yours looks great! The maple cream cheese frosting sound wonderful.
i say when it's carrot cake, it's fat free! i love the fondant carrots on top, so cute!
I make carrot cake all the time, now I need to try that frosting.
I'm not always only about chocolate and carrot cake is one of my faves! Yours looks awesome and I love the lil' carrots!
Omg those carrots are adorable! Love it!
I am so impressed with your carrots! I definitely need to try this frosting. You are too good, girl!
Oh my goodness that looks divine! Simple as little carrots may seem I know I don't have the skill to make them look as great as you did too! And for the record I agree – any cake with carrots in it HAS to be healthy. Or, at the very least, healthier than a cake without carrots! 😉
Hi there, Leslie!!
You always have the most lovely cakes!!! This is absolutely beautiful. You are so so talented.
Leslie, that carrot cake and the little carrots on top are just great looking. Love reading your posts!
Your creations are getting better and better everyday! I mean this cake looks like it just came out from famous bakeshops here in France! Seriously you really have the talent dear!!
ps, can i have slice please 🙂
Love the addition of the maple syrup, and your carrots? Too cute!
Yummy and adorable!
This the cake I baked for my dad for his birthday! He hates chocolate ( go figure) so this is his fave. Love your fondant carrots!
I would love to attend the party in your head!
Those carrots are adorable and the addition of maple to the frosting is perfect!
awww!!! those carrots look sooo pretty!! hehe.. love ye cake!! look mighty tasty! 🙂
Such cute little carrots! I am on the lookout for THE carrot cake recipe.
The carrots are awesome! And your cake looks delish.
I love those carrots! Super cute!
Yes, I'll sure join you in that fantasy land where cakes are good for you 🙂 Your carrots are so cute and perfect!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, my friend!
Those carrots are so cute!
They look like the real thing!
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
The next time I make carrot cake I have to have those cite fondant carrots…MUST!
They look so cute!!
Love the little carrots. They complete the cake perfectly!
Belated Happy Thanksgiving Leslie!
I love the fondant carrot and the cake looks soo moist and good! Thanks for sharing.