Ingredients
- CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
- 3 cups carrots, peeled and grated
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 4 eggs at room temp
- 1 cup honey
- 1/2 cup canola oil
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup applesauce
- 1 cup crushed walnuts, toasted on a skillet (optional)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 16 oz cream cheese at room temp
- 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened at room temp
- 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour 2 round cake pans.
In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
In a large bowl beat eggs on high speed until foamy (1 min), Add 1 cup honey and beat on high another 4 min. Blend in 1/2 cup canola oil, 2 tsp vanilla and applesauce.
Add in the flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time and mix until it is just incorporated into the batter.
Use a spatula to fold in the grated carrots and walnuts (if using) just until combined.
Divide the batter equally among the two cake pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes; a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean (mine was closer to 30 min).
Tip: While cakes are in the oven make your frosting and refrigerate frosting until ready to use.
Remove cakes form the oven and once they are cool enough to handle, remove from cake molds and let them cool completely to room temp before assembling and frosting your cake. Note: if the cakes are still warm, your frosting will melt.
CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix the 2 sticks of butter with 2 cups powdered sugar on low speed or until combined (1 min) Don’t start on high speed or you will be surrounded in a cloud of powdered sugar. Increase speed to high and beat until the mixture is pale and fluffy (2 min).
Add cream cheese 1-piece at a time and mix until combined. (I waited maybe 3 seconds in between each piece; it’s one after another really. Once all of the cream cheese is incorporated. continue to beat 1 more minute.
Add 1 Tbsp vanilla and mix until combined (1 min). Refrigerate frosting until ready to use.