"Birthday" Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting and Cointreau Carrots

Rated 5 stars out of 5
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  • Read 5 Reviews
Total Time:
1 hr 45 min
Prep
1 hr 10 min
Cook
35 min
Yield:
1 large cake, serves 8-10
Level:
Intermediate
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups finely minced carrots
  • 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
  • 3/4 cup finely chopped walnuts
  • 2 1/2 cups, all-purpose flour, plus extra for pan
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
  • A pinch of kosher salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 1/2 cups dark brown sugar

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a jelly roll pan and line with parchment. Set aside.

Take the carrots and chop into large pieces, then mince in a food processor until you have a fine texture. Drain pineapple and finely chop walnuts. Set aside. In a large mixing bowl add flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices together. In a separate bowl mix buttermilk, molasses, eggs, vegetable oil and dark brown sugar together.

Now combine wet and dry ingredients together to make a batter then fold in the carrots, pineapple and walnuts. Pour into the prepared pan and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes until cake is set and springs back when gently pressed in the middle. Remove the pan from the oven and allow cake to cool on a rack while you prepare the frosting and cointreau carrots (recipes below). Once the cake has cooled, cut into three rectangles by cutting the cake lengthwise twice. Stack the cake up into three tiers with cream cheese frosting in between each layer. Frost the outside of the entire finished cake - smoothing off the edges and corners (an offset spatula works well). Top with Cointreau carrot rounds and drizzle a little of the syrup on top as well.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

Using a kitchen mixer, combine cream cheese and butter until blended and you have a smooth, light texture. Add the vanilla, lemon zest and powdered sugar and beat until combined. Continue to beat until smooth and glossy - about 7 minutes.

Cointreau Carrots:

  • 1 medium carrot
  • 1/2 stick unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 cup Cointreau
  • pinch of salt

Slice carrot up into rounds. Add carrot, butter, sugar, cointreau and salt to a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer and reduce until syrupy - about 5 minutes.

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Newest Ratings and Reviews

Read all 5 reviews

  • on May 15, 2013

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    I was searching for a delicious carrot cake to make for my son's wedding. He wanted a carrot cake for his groom's cake and I tried a couple before this one. This recipe is moist and so flavorful and delicious. It was a big hit at my son's wedding. The grooms cake was eaten before the actual wedding cake! I did not make the carrot coins, but the cake and frosting are superb.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on November 15, 2012

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    I have made this cake many many times, it's one of the best carrot cakes I have ever made. My daughter rage "carrot cake snob" asks me to make it all the time.

    people found this review Helpful.
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  • on July 28, 2012

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    After baking this cake, I took it to a "dinner on the grounds" occasion at church. Everyone raved about it and begged for the recipe. I loved the density of the cake and the flavor was unreal. Best cake I ever made.

    people found this review Helpful.
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