Carrot cake

I have tried various recipes for Carrot cake and have been disappointed many times, I find many far to sweet.

I can't remember where I found this one, but like it and have tweaked it to my own taste.

You will need:

An 8 Inch cake tin-I used a silicone one

Set oven to 180-Gas 4

150 ml sunflower oil

130 g light soft brown sugar

4 eggs

200g SF wholemeal flour

1 tsp bicarb

1/2tsp salt

3 tsp cinnamon

1tsp fresh grated nutmeg

zest of an orange

100g sultanas

200 g grated carrot

220 ml orange juice 

Lightly toasted pecans or walnuts for decorating-of which I had none!

For the icing

200g tub full fat cream cheese or mascarpone icing sugar,

140 g Icing sugar
30 g butter
 1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Grease and line cake tin.

Put the sunflower oil, eggs and sugar into a large bowl. I have my little helper today :)

Cracking eggs

 Whisk on high until well combined, then add the sifted flour, bicarb, salt and spices, fold in gently, then add remaining ingredients.

  Pour into a cake tin and bake for 1 hr or until after testing your skewer comes out clean. turn out onto a wire rack to cool.

Whisk all the icing ingredients together until smooth and creamy.

Tongue out concentrating!

  Spread onto the cooled cake, and decorate with the toasted nuts.

Enjoy!

Triple- layered Carrot cake.

What with this cold snap I have been baking a fair bit the past week, despite feeling very poorly for nearly 3 weeks now, I have had chest infection, sore throat, cold, ear infection, bad sickness bug, and dodgy tummy this weekend, so hopefully am on the mend now.  I find it hard to do nothing when I'm ill, I still have to potter...

Not much chance of getting out at all today, as pavements are treacherous from  the snowfall over the weekend. So a cosy day in baking. I decided to make this Triple layered carrot cake inspired from a cookery programme I watched last week ,  the recipe is by Jo Pratt link here

It is rather decadent with three layers with all the frosting, but a small piece is all that is needed to satisfy a sweet craving, I myself really love the Clementine zest in the frosting , it really lifts it, and the roasted pecans on the top give a delicious crunch!

My brother just popped in for a haircut, and spotted the cake , so took a big slice, before I  had a chance to take a pic of it whole!
I have just been commissioned to make somebody's wedding cupcakes which will be fun so will be planning that tonight,  it's a white and silver theme. it's a  bit more creative then everyday baking.

 My two boys will be with me the whole of this week as their dad is away on holiday, we share time with the boys 50/50 usually.  I have devised a menu for the whole week, much easier then last minute decisions, and will make plenty of snacky things as two teenage boys in the house means supplies dwindle very quickly.

Oh well on with dinner.Teriyaki chicken with crunchy veg and noodles tonight.

Whilst I sit here typing this my daughter has been outside building a little snowman, bless her. She went out yesterday but couldn't hack the cold in her hands for more than 10  minutes, so a result today, a mini Snowman. She did have gloves on by the way, she just took them off!

Hope your all enjoying the snow and being cosy inside!