Everybody likes Cake! Since we have a Spring Holiday coming up, I thought I would share my favorite Carrot Cake recipe! Who would have 'thunk' that Orange Frosting goes so well with Carrot Cake!
Orange Blossom Carrot Cakes
Carrot cake made from a mix, with the flavor of Orange and Orange Flavored Cream Cheese Frosting.
CAKE
1 (18 1/4 ounce) package yellow cake mix
1 (3 1/2 ounce) package vanilla instant pudding mix
2/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 large eggs
2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 cups carrots, grated from 5 medium carrots
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup walnuts
Fresh Orange Cream Cheese Frosting
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, at room temperature
8 Tbs butter, at room temperature
3 cups powdered sugar, sifted
2 Tbs fresh orange juice
1 Tbs orange zest, grated from 1 medium orange
1. Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease two 9-inch round cake pans with solid vegetable shortening. Dust with flour, then shake out the excess flour. Set the pans aside.
2. Place the cake mix, pudding mix, orange juice, oil, eggs, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 1 minute. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat for 2 minutes more, scraping the sides down again if needed. The batter should look thick and well blended. Gently fold in the carrots, raisins, and nuts with a rubber spatula. Divide the batter between the prepared pans, smoothing it out with the rubber spatula. Place the pans in the oven side by side.
3. Bake the cakes until they are golden brown and spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 30 to 35 minutes. Remove the pans from the oven and place them on wire racks to cool for 10 minutes. Run a dinner knife around the edges of each layer and invert each onto a rack, then invert each again onto another rack so that the cakes are right side up. Allow them to cool completely, 30 minutes more.
4. Meanwhile, prepare the Fresh Orange Cream Cheese Frosting. (Directions below)
5. Place one cake layer, right side up, on a serving platter. Spread the top with frosting. Place the second layer, right side up, on top of the first layer and frost the top and sides of the cake with clean, smooth strokes.
6. Place this cake, uncovered, in the refrigerator until the frosting sets, 20 minutes. Cover the cake with waxed paper and store in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Or freeze it, wrapped in aluminum foil, for up to 6 months. Thaw the cake in the refrigerator before serving.
7. Place the cream cheese and butter in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, 30 seconds. Stop the machine. Add the confectioners' sugar, a bit at a time, blending with the mixer on low speed until the sugar is well combined, 1 minute. Then add the orange juice and zest to the mixture. Increase the mixer speed to medium and beat until the frosting lightens and is fluffy, 1 minute more.
8. Use at once to frost the Carrot Cake.
NOTE: To Make Mini Cupcakes: Use food processor to CHOP up Carrots. Do NOT add Raisins and Walnuts. Bake for 12-15 minutes, until done. REMOVE raisins and Walnuts if making Mini Cupcakes. Makes 4 Dozen
Servings: 16
Yield: 9 inch cake
Cooking Times
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
What is your favorite cake recipe? Thanks for stopping by my A to Z Challenge!
b is for... Blackpool
photos found on google images photo one and photo two
