Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Cafe Dessert: Moist and Aromatic Carrot Cake Topped with Cream Cheese
Enjoy a magnificent cafe-style dessert right in your own kitchen! This is a moist and aromatic carrot cake, generously packed with fresh carrots, which are rich in vitamins A and C. Grinding the carrots finely and incorporating them into the batter results in a softer texture than using shredded carrots. When making cake batter, unlike cookies, it’s crucial to achieve a soft, creamy consistency. This is done by creaming the butter until soft, then gradually adding eggs and sugar while mixing thoroughly until no sugar granules remain. This process helps the cake rise beautifully and enhances its texture! I’ll be sharing a variety of cafe dessert recipes learned from baking school in the coming days, so please look forward to them!
Cake Ingredients- 320g Butter
- 280g Sugar
- 2g Salt
- 250g Eggs (room temperature)
- 300g All-purpose flour
- 6g Baking powder (B.P)
- 50g Almond flour
- 2g Nutmeg powder
- 2g Cinnamon powder
- 150g Grated carrots
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients- 180g Cream cheese (room temperature)
- 40g Butter (room temperature)
- 45g Powdered sugar (Confectioners’ sugar)
- 45g Heavy cream
- 9g Lemon juice
- 180g Cream cheese (room temperature)
- 40g Butter (room temperature)
- 45g Powdered sugar (Confectioners’ sugar)
- 45g Heavy cream
- 9g Lemon juice
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
1. In a bowl, soften the butter at room temperature. Add sugar and salt, and cream them together with a whisk until you achieve a smooth, creamy texture. Ensure it’s well-creamed; this is a key step for a tender cake.
Step 2
2. Gradually add the eggs, about 2-3 additions, while mixing continuously to maintain a smooth cream state. Adding too much egg at once can cause the mixture to curdle, so mix well after each addition. Continue mixing until the sugar granules dissolve, creating a smooth, emulsified batter.
Step 3
3. Sift the dry ingredients (all-purpose flour, baking powder, almond flour, nutmeg, cinnamon). Before adding the flour mixture, separately sift together the nutmeg, cinnamon powder, and baking powder.
Step 4
Add the grated carrots to the batter and mix gently until evenly distributed. Ensure the carrots are incorporated throughout the mixture.
Step 5
Add the sifted flour and almond flour to the batter. Using a spatula, gently fold the ingredients together using a ‘cut and fold’ motion until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a tough cake. Mix only until no dry streaks of flour remain.
Step 6
4. Divide the cake batter evenly among three 1-pound cake pans (Size 1). Bake in a preheated oven at 170°C (338°F) for 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 160°C (320°F) and bake for another 30 minutes. To check for doneness, insert a skewer into the center; it should come out clean.
Step 7
5. Once baked, remove the cake layers from the pans and let them cool completely. While the cakes are cooling, prepare the frosting. Transfer the prepared cream cheese frosting to a piping bag and pipe decorative swirls onto the cooled cake layers. Finish by dusting a little cinnamon powder over the top using a sieve.
Step 8
Using a piping bag, pipe the cream cheese frosting in circular patterns or desired shapes onto the cake layers. Get creative with your designs!
Step 9
6. For the decorative carrots, prepare a separate batter, shape them, and use them as toppers for the cake. (If desired, you can add food coloring to this step to create more vibrant carrot decorations.)
Step 10
Add food coloring to the carrot decorations for a visually appealing touch.
Step 11
To make the cream cheese frosting: 1. In a bowl, beat the room-temperature cream cheese until smooth. Add the room-temperature butter and cream them together until well combined. 2. Add the powdered sugar and lemon juice, and mix until you achieve a smooth, creamy consistency. 3. Gradually add the cold heavy cream while whipping to reach your desired frosting consistency. 4. Finally, add the lemon juice for a fresh zing and mix gently to combine.
Step 12
Unlike cupcakes, the cream cheese frosting is piped onto the cake layers in round shapes using a piping bag to create a beautiful finish. Decorate your cake with lovely patterns! ^^
