MOLLY O’NEILL’S TERRIFIC CARROT CAKE

Very popular. I decorate with angelica (preserved violet petals). The white and purple effect is beautiful. Here is one of my favorite recipes:

Cake

  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 cups freshly grated carrots (about 7 carrots)
  • 1 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 4 large eggs

Frosting

  • 1 stick (8 tbsp) unsalted butter, softened
  • 12 oz (1 ½ large packages) cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tbsp milk
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350F. Pam two 9″ round cake pans.
  2. Make the cake
  3. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients except the eggs. Add the eggs and mix well. Pour the batter into the pans and bake until springy to the touch, 35-40 minutes. Cool in the pan on a wire rack.
  4. Make the frosting
  5. In a mixer, cream butter, cream cheese, milk, and vanilla. Add sugar and stir until smooth. When the cake is cool, frost.
  6. I decorate with sugared violets – the purple and white effect is gorgeous!