Wednesday Recipes...The Best Ever Carrot Cake

Dear Readers, I hope you are well! I have been so busy, and I can only apologize that this is arriving later in the day. Part of the reason I've been busy is lovely news--my daughter was in town! She and I talked wedding dresses (did I mention she just got engaged?) and dress shop appointments and more. She left to return back to NYC this morning--it's always sad when they leave.

Now, this recipe is labeled by the magazine where I found it as the best ever--I'm not sure, but I will say I love the orange cream cheese icing!!

Carrot Snack Cake

Ingredients:

4 eggs

1 cup olive oil

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1 tablespoon orange zest

1/2 cup orange juice

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

2 1/2 cups shredded carrots

1 cup chopped toasted walnuts (I kept these on the side in a dish so people with nut allergies could enjoy and those who don't could add the walnuts on top)

Cream Cheese Frosting, below.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13x9x2 baking pan and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, oil, brown sugar, orange zest, orange juice, and vanilla until combined. Whisk in flours, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg until combined. Stir in carrots and walnuts (unless keeping separate). Pour into prepared pan.

3. Bake 35 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Spread with Cream Cheese Frosting. Sprinkle with orange zest. Makes 20 servings.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

Ingredients:

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

3 tablespoons butter, softened

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon orange zest

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, beat together 8 ounces cream cheese and softened butter with mixer on medium speed until combined and smooth.

2. Add 2 cups powdered sugar; beat on low until combined. Stir in 1 teaspoon orange zest.

3. Spread on cake and sprinkle with additional zest.

This icing is good that I'm going to try it on other things! Yum. :)

Note: This comes from Better Homes and Gardens magazine, April 2016 edition. I'm always finding recipes!

Blessings, Christina