Recipe of the Week: Carrot Cake

Ingredients

• 250g/9oz plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 150g/6oz light brown sugar
• 50g/2oz walnuts,
• handful sultanas
• 150g/5oz carrots, grated
• 150ml/5fl oz corn oil
• 3 free-range eggs

For the icing

• 125g/4oz butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
• 225g/8oz cream cheese
• 450g/1lb icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 50g/2oz crushed pecans, to decorate

Preparation method

1. Preheat the oven to 160C/320F/Gas 2.
   
2. Sift the flour, baking powder, salt and bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and mix well.
   
3. Add the sugar, walnuts, sultanas, grated carrot, oil and eggs and mix well to completely combine.
   
4. Pour the cake mixture into a greased 22.5cm/9in cake tin and place into the oven to bake for 1-1¼ hours, or until cooked through. Test by pushing a skewer into the centre of the cake. If the skewer comes out clean the cake is ready.
   
5. Remove from the oven when ready and allow to cool on a wire rack.
   
6. For the icing, beat the butter and cheese together in a clean bowl until light and fluffy.
   
7. Add sugar and vanilla extract and mix well.
   
8. Once the cake is cool, remove from the cake tin and spread the icing all over the cake. 
9. Decorate the cake with a few crushed pecans and serve in generous slices.

As you may know, I love to bake...especially for family and friends. I decided to bake my church staff one of my favorite desserts: carrot cake! It's a bit more healthy since it includes carrots, walnuts, and raisins! Enjoy this lovely recipe...and more to come.