Carrot Marmalade Layer Cake Recipes

THREE-LAYER CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Make the cake: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Brush three 9-inch-round cake pans with vegetable oil and line the bottoms with parchment paper. Spread the pecans on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, about 10 minutes. Let cool, then pulse in a food processor until very finely chopped.
• Combine the pecans, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and granulated sugar in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk the vegetable oil, lemon zest, eggs and 1/2 cup marmalade. Stir in the carrots, then fold the carrot mixture into the flour mixture until just combined. Divide among the prepared pans and spread evenly (it won't look like a lot of batter, but the cakes will rise in the oven). Put 2 pans on the upper oven rack and the third pan on the lower rack. Bake until the cakes bounce back when touched and a toothpick comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes, switching the position of the pans halfway through. Transfer the pans to racks until cool enough to handle, then invert the cakes onto the racks to cool completely. Remove the parchment.
• Make the frosting: Beat the cream cheese and butter in a bowl with a mixer until smooth, scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the confectioners' sugar, lemon juice, vanilla and salt until smooth.
• Put 1 cake layer on a platter. Spread with 1 tablespoon marmalade, then spread about 3/4 cup frosting over the marmalade. Top with another cake layer, marmalade and frosting. Spread the final cake layer with a thin layer of frosting. (This is the crumb coat; it doesn't have to be perfect.) Refrigerate 1 hour, then cover with the remaining frosting. Swirl some marmalade into the top of the cake. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Photograph by Con Poulos

CARROT CAKE WITH MARMALADE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• For Cake:
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour two 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Sift first 5 ingredients into medium bowl. Beat eggs, oil, sugars, marmalade and juice in large bowl until blended. Stir in dry ingredients. Fold in carrots and nuts. Divide batter between cake pans. Bake until tester inserted into centers comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer cakes to racks; cool 15 minutes. Turn out cakes onto racks; cool completely.
• For Frosting:
• Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and sugar in large bowl until smooth. Add 3/4 cup marmalade, butter and orange peel and beat just until smooth. If necessary, cover and chill until firm enough to spread.
• Place 1 cake on plate. Spread with 1/4 cup marmalade. Spread 1 cup frosting over. Top with second cake. Spoon 2 cups frosting into pastry bag fitted with large star tip. Spread remaining frosting smoothly over top and sides of cake.
• Pipe frosting in 4 parallel lines atop cake, spacing evenly. Pipe 5 lines atop cake in opposite direction, forming lattice. Press 1 cup nuts onto sides of cake. Pipe ring of frosting around top edge of cake. Stir 1/4 cup marmalade to loosen; spoon some into 1 row of lattice diamonds. Spoon some of remaining nuts into next row of diamonds. Repeat, alternating marmalade and nuts, filling rows completely. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill.)

MARMALADE LAYER CAKE - TO DIE FOR

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 and butter two 9 inch round cake pans, line with parchment or waxed paper, and then butter the paper.
• Sift flour, baking soda and salt in a bowl.
• In another bowl with an electric mixer, beat the butter until light, add the sugar a little at a time and beat until light and fluffy.
• Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
• Beat in 1/3 of the dry ingredients alternately with 1/2 of the butter milk until combined well.
• Add half the remaining dry ingredients and the remaining butter milk, beat until combined well.
• finally add in the remaining dry ingredients and beat until smooth.
• Evenly divide the batter between pans and bake for 45 minutes or until a cake tester interted comes out clean.
• (The cake turns a dark golden brown) Leave the cakes in the pans Meanwhile make the syrup by mixing the juice and sugar until dissolved.
• Once the cake is cooked, poke holes 1/2 inch apart with a toothpick and spoon the syrup over each layer.
• Let the layers cool completely in the pans.
• When the cakes are cool, heat the marmalade over moderate heat until it's meltetd and let it stand for 5 minutes.
• Place the first layer on a cake plate and carefully peel off the waxed paper Spread 2/3 of the marmalade over the top right to the edge.
• Invert the remaining layer and peel off the waxed paper.
• Spoon the Marmalade onto the center of it, leaving a 1 1/4 inch rim bare along the edges.
• In another bowl prepare the frosting by whisking the heavy cream with the sugar until stiff peaks form.
• Add the sour cream a little at a time and whisk until spreading consistency.
• Spread the frosting along the sides of the cake and along the bare rim on the top, leaving the marmalde on the top exposed.
• Chill for 2 hours at least and STAND BACK when you serve it!