Carrot Cake

Description

This old standby from the 1960's freezes beautifully, frosting and all. Watching fat consumption? Replace up to half the oil with applesauce for a lighter dessert.

Ingredients

4Cupflour
4Cupsugar
2Teaspoonbaking powder
2Teaspoonbaking soda
2Teaspoonsalt
2Teaspooncinnamon
2Cupsalad oil (or 1 cup oil, 1 cup applesauce)
8 eggs
1Cupbroken walnuts
6Cupcarrots, finely shredded (about 2 pounds)

Instructions

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Butter and lightly flour 2 13-by-9 inch sheet cake pans (or 4 9-by-9 inch square cake pans).

Using large stand mixer (like Kitchen-Aid brand), combine all dry ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Add carrots, oil (or oil and applesauce) and eggs. Beat on low until mixed, then increase mixer speed to medium and beat for two minutes. Spread batter in pans.

Bake at 325 degrees until the cake centers spring back when touched lightly--about 45 minutes for large pans, 35 to 40 minutes for small pans. Allow cakes to cool in the pan on a cooling rack before frosting with Cream Cheese icing.

Notes

Cream Cheese Icing: Allow 2 3-ounce packages of cream cheese and one (1/2 cup) stick of butter to come to room temperature. Place in mixer bowl, and beat on high speed until combined. Add 2 teaspoons vanilla and 4 cups powdered sugar. Beat at medium-high speed until light and fluffy--2 to 4 minutes. Ice tops of cakes only. Sprinkle frosting with chopped walnuts.