The BEST Carrot Cake with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting

I've made this recipe twice in 4 days now since it is so delicious! The women at the first party were also going to be at the second party and they requested the carrot cake again - it got eaten even faster the second time!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Lemon Zest Frosting

Ingredients:

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup applesauce
3/4 cup canola oil
4 large eggs
3 cups grated carrots - 4 or 5 carrots
1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped pecans or walnuts
1 Tablespoon grated fresh ginger

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Butter two 9 inch diameter cake pans, line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper, butter the paper, flour the inside of the pans and tap out the excess.
3. Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and cloves in a medium bowl.
4. Whisk sugar, oil, applesauce in a large bowl and whisk in eggs, one at a time.
5. Add flour mixture and stir until blended.
6. Stir in carrots, nuts and grated ginger.
7. Divide batter between prepared pans and bake until tester inserted in the middle comes out clean - about 40 minutes - less in a convection oven.
8. Cool cakes in pans 15 minutes, turn out onto racks, peel off parchment paper, cool completely.

Cream Cheese Lemon Zest Frosting

Ingredients:

Three - 8 ounce packages cream cheese - at room temperature
2 sticks (1 cup or 8 ounces) unsalted butter at room temperature
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1 1/2 Tablespoons lemon juice
1 Tablespoon good vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar - sifted

Directions:

1. In a standing mixer whip the cream cheese and butter on medium high until combined and airy - about 2 minutes.
2. Mix in lemon zest, lemon juice, and vanilla.
3. Sift the powdered sugar and add slowly to mixer on low speed - try to keep it in the bowl!
4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix until all combined.
5. If frosting is too soft, mix in some more sugar and refrigerate until you need to use it.

Assembly:

1. Cut each layer of the cake in half horizontally with a long serrated knife.
2. Lay the first layer on the cake plate, top with 1/2 cup icing spread to the edge. Top with second layer, spread icing and repeat with 3rd and 4th layers.
3. Cover top and sides of the cake with icing and refrigerate until serving.

Happy St. Patricks Day!

In honor of our friend St. Patrick I thought I would post. This is a really good and easy recipe for corned beef.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Ingredients:

One 3 pound corned beef flat cut brisket, in brine
Water to cover in pan
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
4 whole allspice
2 whole cloves
½ head green cabbage cut into wedges
8 small new potatoes (about 1 ¼ pounds) halved
4 carrots, cut into chunks
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
2. Place the corned beef in a colander in the sink and rinse well.
3. Place the corned beef in a large dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid.
4. Add the water to cover, bay leaves, peppercorns, allspice and cloves.
5. Bring to a boil, uncovered and skim off any scum that rises to the surface.
6. Cover the pan and transfer to the oven, braise until very tender, about 3 to 3 ½ hours.
7. Transfer the corned beef to a cutting board and cover tightly with foil to keep warm.
8. Add the cabbage, potatoes, and carrots to the cooking liquid and bring to a boil.
9. Lower the heat and simmer until vegetables are tender – about 20 minutes.
10. Using a slotted spoon – remove the vegetables from the liquid and transfer them to a large platter.
11. Slice the corned beef across the grain in thin slices and arrange on platter with vegetables.
12. Ladle some of the hot cooking liquid over the corned beef and season with pepper.
13. Serve immediately with stone ground mustard or horseradish sauce.