Walnut Carrot Cake Squares with Cream Cheese Frosting

By cindy1010

Ingredients

• FOR CAKE:
• 2 c. flour
• 2 c. sugar
• 1-1/2 t. baking soda
• 1-1/2 t. salt
• 1-1/2 t. ground cinnamon
• 3/4 c. canola or corn oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1-1/3 t. vanilla
• 2-1/4 c. finely grated carrots
• 1 c. coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted
• FOR FROSTING:
• 1 stick unsalted butter, softened
• 6 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1-1/2 t. vanilla
• 2-1/2 c. confectioners' sugar
• 1 c. walnut halves, toasted

Preparation

Step 1

FOR CAKE:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-inch square baking pan. Sift together first 5 dry ingredients in a bowl. On low speed, add oil, mixing well (mixture will look crumbly). Add eggs and vanilla, mixing for about 30 seconds, until smooth. Add carrots and walnuts, stirring by hand until well combined. Transfer to prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan for about 1-1/2 hours.

FOR FROSTING:
Beat butter, cream cheese, and vanilla until smoothly blended with a mixer on low speed. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until well combined, then increase speed for 1 minute to lighten the mixture. Spread the frosting over the cooled cake and sprinkle walnuts over the frosting. Cut into squares.