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Mama's Carrot Cake

Source of Recipe

From "Southern Living: A Southern Gentleman's Kitchen"


Recipe Introduction

"The rich cake, topped off with crunchy pecans and silky smooth cream cheese icing, is absolutely worth praise. Served with hot coffee or tea, this dessert will become a family favorite."

List of Ingredients

Carrot Cake:
◦  2 cups granulated sugar
◦  2 cups all-purpose flour
◦  2 teaspoons baking soda
◦  2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
◦  1 teaspoon kosher salt
◦  4 large eggs
◦  1½ cups canola oil
◦  1 pound carrots, peeled and finely grated (about 3 cups loosely packed)
◦  Vegetable cooking spray
◦  Parchment paper

Cream Cheese Frosting:
◦  1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
◦  ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
◦  1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
◦  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
◦  1 cup chopped toasted pecans


Recipe

Prepare Carrot Cake:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Whisk together granulated sugar, 2 cups flour, and next three ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Add eggs and oil; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended. Add carrots, and beat 1 minute or until blended.

Lightly grease three 9-inch round cake pans with cooking spray; line bottom of each pan with parchment paper; lightly grease paper with vegetable spray and flour. Spoon batter into prepared pans.

Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans to wire racks; discard parchment paper. Cool completely (about 1 hour).

Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting:
Beat cream cheese and butter at medium speed with an electric mixer 1 minute or until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, ½ cup at a time, beating at low speed until blended after each addition. Add vanilla, and beat at low speed just until blended. Fold in pecans.

Spread frosting between layers and on top of cake (do not frost sides of cake). Serve immediately, or chill until ready to serve. Cover and refrigerate any leftover cake.



Serves 12