I am a huge HATER of cakes. I could rant all day about why cake is the worst baked good in the history of the universe, but I'd be a bit of a hypocrite as I adore carrot cake. I think it's because most cakes involve cocoa and I'm not a huge fan of chocolate, so carrot cake hits the spot!
I use the good ol' Edmonds recipe (edited) for my cake and icing then fancy it up with candied walnuts and orange peel.
Ingredients:
1 cup plain flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp cinnamon
1 cup brown sugar
1½ cups grated carrot, lightly packed
I fresh orange squeezed
¼ cup chopped walnuts
¾ cup oil
2 eggs
1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC. Lightly grease a 20cm square tin and line the base and two sides with baking paper. Or use a 20cm ring tin, lightly greased and dusted with flour.
2. Put the flour, baking soda and cinnamon in a bowl and mix them thoroughly. A whisk is a good implement for this.
3. Add the sugar, grated carrot, orange juice and the walnuts and mix again.
4. With a fork, beat together the oil and the eggs and tip them onto the other ingredients. Mix until well combined and pour into the prepared tin.
5. Bake for 40–45 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched.
6. Cool in the tin on a wire rack. When cold, ice with Cream Cheese Icing.
Cream Cheese Icing
2 Tbsp butter, softened
¼ cup cream cheese, softened
1 cup icing sugar
splash of milk
1. Beat the butter and cream cheese until creamy. Sift over the icing sugar and add splash of milk, beating well to combine.
Candied Orange Peel
Cut orange peel away from fruit, slice into thin strips.
Boil in water for 20 minutes, drain and let cool.
Bring sugar and water to a boil to dissolve the sugar.
Add the orange peel and boil until the syrup thickens.
Place on a baking paper and allow to harden. Sprinkle with more sugar.
Candied Walnuts
Pretty much the same process as above! Easy peasy, how I like it :D