Today we are going to take the easy way out. This recipe is what one might call a semi-homemade cake. Every now and then a cake mix recipe works really well. Less ingredients are needed to complete the dessert and it saves a lot of time that you would have spent measuring out flour, baking powder, salt or sugar.
Carrot cake is simply a spice cake doctored up. With the addition of some carrot and nuts the batter is ready in no time. The frosting is a cream cheese base and in two easy steps it will be ready for you to start decorating your cake.
This week at SuperValu in Winona, the sales flyer includes Pillsbury cake mixes for 99 cents a box. Each package is 18 ounces which is the size cake mix also used in this recipe. Check your pantry and refrigerator to make sure you have all the ingredients at home. If not, since you are already at the grocery store in town pick up the remaining items.
This cake and frosting recipe is quite simple to prepare with only 6 ingredients combined. What nicer way to celebrate National Carrot Cake Day than to make a carrot cake of your own!
Ingredients:
- 1 store bought box of spice cake mix
- 2 cups of shredded carrots
- 1 cup chopped walnuts, almonds or pecans
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350′.
- In a large mixing bowl prepare cake mix according to package directions.
- Gently stir or fold in shredded carrots and chopped nuts.
- Grease and flour a baking pan.
- Bake according to package directions, 25-35 minutes depending on the cake mix purchased.
- Remove cake from oven and place on a cooling rack for 20 minutes.
- Flip cake onto cooling rack.
- Allow cake to cool completely.
- Once cool the cake should be transferred to a cake dish or plate.
- Now it is time to add the frosting.
- Enjoy!
Carrot cake frosting
Ingredients:
- ½(8 ounce) package of softened cream cheese
- 1 pound of confectioners’ sugar
Directions:
- In a mixing bowl combine butter and cream cheese and beat until creamy.
- Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar and mix it well into the cream cheese mixture.
- Using a cake spatula, start to spread carrot cake frosting over cake top.
- Carrot cake is ready to serve.
- Enjoy!
Suggestions:
- Add some shaved white chocolate on top of the frosting.
- Give the frosting a little extra texture and add a little shredded coconut into the frosting itself or sprinkle it on top. A light toasting of the coconut flakes brings out more of its flavor and puts a little extra color contrast against the white frosting.
- If you’re not nuts about coconut, simply add a sprinkle of sprinkles to give a festive look to your cake.
