Luxury carrot cake

The best part of baking a carrot cake is that while its baking, it will tempt you and your neighbors with it’s warm aroma.  The aroma of cinnamon and freshly grated nutmeg gives it a spicy flavor which will not miss to tease your taste buds.  The cream cheese frosting will moisten this light and springy cake. The zests of lemon will further help to upbring the flavor of this strong flavored cake. Having it with my cup of hot espresso is simply heavenly for me.

Ingredients

1 ½ cups plain flour

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup dark brown sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

3 eggs

1 ¾ cups carrots peeled and grated

1 can crushed pineapple, well drained (optional)

½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

For the cream cheese icing

¾ cup cream cheese

Finely grated zest of 1 lemon or orange

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

1 cup icing sugar

Method

1.      Mix all the dry ingredients, i.e., flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda and brown sugar, together with a whisk.

2.      In a separate bowl, lightly whisk together oil and eggs.

3.      Then gradually stir into the dry ingredients in oil and eggs mixture. Stir well but don’t over mix it.

4.      Add the carrots, pineapple and walnut (if adding).

5.      Preheat the oven at 180 degree c for about 10 minutes. And prepare your cake tin by lining it with waxed paper.

6.      Pour the cake mixture in the prepared cake tin. Bake for 50 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.

7.      Remove from oven and allow it to cool in the tin for 5 minutes before turning it out on a wire rack. Leave until completely cool.

To make icing

1.      Beat together cream cheese, lemon zest, few drops of lemon juice and vanilla extract.

2.      Sift the icing sugar and stir in the cream cheese mixture.

When cake is cold, spread the cream cheese icing over the top and serve your homemade exclusive Luxury Carrot Cake with a cup of espresso!!