Imen Dridi Joy of Cooking Carrot Cake is made with flour, vegetable oil, eggs, grated carrots, walnuts, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, salt, golden raisins, and pineapple. It serves 6 and takes about 1 hour to make.
🧡 Why You’ll Love This Carrot Cake Recipe:
- Full of Flavor: This recipe combines a rich blend of spices including cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice, offering a warm and inviting taste that perfectly complements the sweetness of the carrots and sugar.
- Moist and Tender: The combination of vegetable oil, eggs, and the natural juices from the carrots and crushed pineapple ensures that every bite of this cake is incredibly moist and tender.
- Texture Contrast: The inclusion of finely chopped walnuts and golden raisins adds a lovely crunch and chewiness to the cake, providing a delightful contrast to the soft cake base.
- Perfectly Sweetened: With the right balance of sugar and the natural sweetness of the carrots and pineapple, this cake hits the sweet spot without being overly sweet.
- Easy to Make: Despite its complex flavors, this carrot cake recipe is surprisingly easy to make. It requires simple ingredients and straightforward steps, making it accessible to bakers of all skill levels.
- Deliciously Dense: Unlike some cakes that can be overly fluffy or airy, this carrot cake has a satisfyingly dense texture that makes it especially fulfilling.
❓ What Is Joy Of Cooking Carrot Cake Recipe?
Joy of Cooking Carrot Cake recipe is a delightful blend of grated carrots, walnuts, golden raisins, and crushed pineapple mixed with spices and baked to perfection. It’s moist, flavorful, and easy to make, serving as a classic favorite for all occasions.
🥕 Joy Of Cooking Carrot Cake Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large egg
- 1 1/2 peeled and finely grated cup carrot
- 1 cup walnuts, finely chopped
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 freshly grated or ground teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, lightly drained
🥮 How To Make Joy Of Cooking Carrot Cake
- Start by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Get a cake pan and grease it or line it with parchment paper.
- In a big bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs until they are well beaten. Then, add the sugar and vegetable oil. Mix these until they blend well together.
- Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir everything together until it’s just combined; don’t overmix.
- Fold in the grated carrots, chopped walnuts, golden raisins, and crushed pineapple into the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Put it in the oven and bake for about 45-50 minutes. The cake is done when you can poke it with a toothpick and it comes out clean.
- Once the cake is baked, take it out of the oven. Let it cool in the pan for a bit before transferring it to a wire rack to cool down completely.
💭 Recipe Tips:
- Sift Dry Ingredients: Sifting flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices not only helps remove lumps but also aerates your dry ingredients, leading to a lighter cake texture.
- Fold Gently: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, fold them together gently with a spatula. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
- Toast Walnuts: For extra flavor, toast the walnuts before adding them to the batter. Toasting nuts deepens their flavor and adds a crunchy texture to your cake.
- Drain Pineapple Well: Make sure the crushed pineapple is well-drained. Excess moisture can make the batter too wet, affecting the cake’s structure.
- Bake Evenly: To ensure even baking, rotate your cake pan halfway through the baking time if your oven has hot spots.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting or slicing. This prevents the cake from crumbling or the frosting from melting
🍨 What To Serve Carrot Cake?
Serve carrot cake with cream cheese frosting for a classic finish pair it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream for added richness a cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of milk complements its spicy, sweet flavors perfectly, enhancing the overall dessert experience.
🎚 How To Store Leftovers Carrot Cake?
- In the Fridge: Wrap the carrot cake tightly with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container it will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
- In the Freezer: For longer storage, wrap the cake slices or the whole cake in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Place it in a freezer bag or airtight container freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
🥵 How To Reheat Leftovers Carrot Cake?
- Microwave: Place a slice of carrot cake on a microwave-safe plate cover it with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out. Microwave on medium power for 10-15 seconds or until just warm.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Wrap the carrot cake or slices in aluminum foil to retain moisture. Heat for about 10 minutes or until warmed through.
FAQ’S
What makes carrot cake moist?
The moisture in carrot cake primarily comes from the oil, eggs, and grated carrots used in the recipe. Carrots naturally contain water, which releases into the cake batter as it bakes, ensuring the cake stays moist.
Why is my carrot cake dense?
A dense carrot cake could result from overmixing the batter, which develops the gluten in the flour too much, or from not using enough leavening agents like baking soda or baking powder. Ensure accurate measurements and mix just until the ingredients are combined for a lighter texture.
Is carrot cake healthy?
While carrot cake contains healthy ingredients like carrots and nuts, it is still a dessert and can be high in sugar and calories, especially with cream cheese frosting. Enjoying it in moderation as part of a balanced diet is key.
How can I tell when my carrot cake is done baking?
The best way to check if a carrot cake is done is to insert a toothpick or cake tester into the center of the cake. If it comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs attached, the cake is done. The edges should also start to pull away from the sides of the pan.
Why does carrot cake have spices?
Spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice add warmth, depth, and complexity to the flavor of the cake. They complement the sweetness of the carrots and the tanginess of the cream cheese frosting, making for a well-rounded and aromatic dessert.
Joy Of Cooking Carrot Cake Nutrition Fact
Amount Per Serving
- Calories: 513
- Total Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Dietary Fiber: 2 g
- Sugar: 44 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 66 mg
- Sodium: 291 mg
Joy Of Cooking Carrot Cake
Description
Joy of Cooking Carrot Cake is made with flour, vegetable oil, eggs, grated carrots, walnuts, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, salt, golden raisins, and pineapple. It serves 6 and takes about 1 hour to make.
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start by heating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Get a cake pan and grease it or line it with parchment paper.
- In a big bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs until they are well beaten. Then, add the sugar and vegetable oil. Mix these until they blend well together.
- Pour the wet mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir everything together until it’s just combined; don’t overmix.
- Fold in the grated carrots, chopped walnuts, golden raisins, and crushed pineapple into the batter.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Put it in the oven and bake for about 45-50 minutes. The cake is done when you can poke it with a toothpick and it comes out clean.
- Once the cake is baked, take it out of the oven. Let it cool in the pan for a bit before transferring it to a wire rack to cool down completely.
Notes
- Sift Dry Ingredients: Sifting flour, baking soda, baking powder, and spices not only helps remove lumps but also aerates your dry ingredients, leading to a lighter cake texture.
- Fold Gently: When combining the wet and dry ingredients, fold them together gently with a spatula. Overmixing can make the cake tough.
- Toast Walnuts: For extra flavor, toast the walnuts before adding them to the batter. Toasting nuts deepens their flavor and adds a crunchy texture to your cake.
- Drain Pineapple Well: Make sure the crushed pineapple is well-drained. Excess moisture can make the batter too wet, affecting the cake’s structure.
- Bake Evenly: To ensure even baking, rotate your cake pan halfway through the baking time if your oven has hot spots.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cake to cool completely before frosting or slicing. This prevents the cake from crumbling or the frosting from melting
