Martha Stewart Carrot Cake Recipes

CARROT CAKE WITH WHITE-CHOCOLATE FROSTING

Steps:

• Cake:Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush two 8-inch round cake panswith butter. Line pans with parchment rounds; brush parchment
• Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg until thoroughly combined, 30 seconds. Beat eggs with granulated sugar on medium-high speed until pale, fluffy, and doubled in volume, about 5 minutes. While still beating, slowly drizzle in butter, then beat in vanilla until combined. Reduce speed to low and add all but 1/2 cup of flour mixture, beating just until combined. Toss carrots with remaining flour mixture to evenly coat, then fold into batter. Divide batter evenly between pans; smooth tops with an offset spatula.
• Bake until cakes are puffed slightly and a tester inserted into centers comes out clean, 33 to 37 minutes. Transfer pans to a wire rack; let cool 10 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack; remove parchment and let cool completely.
• Frosting:Meanwhile, beat cream cheese on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. While still beating, gradually add chocolate until smooth, scraping down bowl as needed. Add butter and lemon juice; beat to combine. Reduce speed to low; beat in confectioners' sugar, 1/4 cup at a time, until smooth and combined.
• Cut each cake horizontally into 2 layers with a serrated knife. Place bottom layer of one cake, cut-side up, on a cake stand, preferably revolving, or a plate lined with parchment strips. Spread evenly with 3/4cup frosting. Top with other half of cake, cut-side down; spread evenly with another 3/4 cup frosting. Repeat layering and frosting with second cake. Spread 1 cup frosting evenly over top and sides to create a crumb coat. Refrigerate, uncovered, until frosting is firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Transfer remaining frosting to a pastry bag fitted with a petal tip, such as Ateco or Wilton #104. Starting at top center of cake and holding tip vertically, pipe frosting while slowly turning stand or plate, gradually working outward toward edges to create a swirl effect. Repeat process down side of cake, starting at top edge. (Sides will be easier to decorate if you keep large end of tip touching or almost touching cake, holding pointed tip perpendicular to cake while tracing down side.) If frosting starts to get too loose, refrigerate briefly just until firm, but not long enough to harden. Cake can be stored, uncovered, at room temperature up to 12 hours or refrigerated, uncovered, up to 2 days; bring to room temperature before serving.

CARROT CAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush a 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish with oil; set aside. In a food processor, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, cloves, and nutmeg; process to combine. Add sugar and yogurt; process until combined.
• With processor running, add oil and then eggs, one at a time, processing until combined. Transfer to a large bowl; stir in carrots.
• Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Cool in pan.
• Meanwhile, make frosting. With an offset spatula or a butter knife, spread frosting over top of cake. To serve, cut into squares.

SPICED CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush an 8-inch round cake pan with oil. Place a round of waxed or parchment paper in the bottom; brush with oil, and dust with flour, tapping out excess. Set aside.
• In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, cardamom, and salt; set aside. In a small bowl, whisk eggs, sugars, yogurt, and oil until smooth. Gently mix egg mixture into dry ingredients until moistened; mix in carrots. Transfer batter to prepared pan.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes (if browning too quickly, tent cake with aluminum foil). Cool in pan, 15 minutes. Turn out of pan, remove paper, and cool completely on a rack, right side up. Apply glaze, or dust with confectioners' sugar.

CARROT-GINGER LAYER CAKE WITH ORANGE CREAM-CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Butter two 8-by-2-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper and butter. Dust pans with flour and tap out any excess. Set aside. Spread pecans in a single layer on an ungreased baking pan and toast in oven until lightly golden, about 7 minutes. Remove from oven and let stand until completely cool. Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees. Finely chop pecans and set aside.
• Place carrots, eggs, buttermilk, vanilla, sugar, and ginger in a large bowl; mix until well combined.
• Into a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Using a rubber spatula, fold the flour mixture into the carrot mixture until combined. Fold in the butter and toasted pecans.
• Divide batter between the two cake pans and bake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Remove pans from oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool, about 15 minutes. Turn cakes out onto rack; let stand until completely cool.
• Using a serrated knife, trim tops of cakes so surfaces are level. Place a layer on a cake stand or cardboard round and spread 3/4 cup frosting over top. Place the second cake layer on top and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides of assembled cake. Transfer to refrigerator and chill 3 to 4 hours.
• For the candied carrot strips, set a wire rack over a baking pan. Using fingers, lift one candied carrot strip from the sugar syrup, holding it over the container. With the thumb and forefinger of your other hand, gently squeeze the carrot strip and slide your fingers along its length, removing as much excess syrup as possible; lay the carrot strip on the wire rack. Repeat with remaining carrot strips.
• Decorate cake with candied carrot strips as desired. Cut cake and serve.

CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line 2 standard muffin tins with paper liners. In a bowl, whisk together carrots, eggs, sugar, oil, buttermilk, vanilla seeds, and raisins and nuts if desired. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves. Stir flour mixture into carrot mixture until well combined.
• Divide batter among muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until testers inserted into centers come out clean, 23 to 28 minutes. Let cool in tins on wire racks, 10 minutes. Turn out cupcakes onto wire racks, and let cool completely. Unfrosted cupcakes can be stored overnight at room temperature, or frozen for up to 2 months in airtight containers.
• Frost cupcakes with cream cheese frosting. Frosted cupcakes can be refrigerated for up to 3 days; bring to room temperature, and sprinkle with toasted coconut (press gently to adhere) before serving.