Vanilla Iced Carrot Cake Recipes: A Comprehensive Guide

Carrot cake is a beloved dessert that combines the sweetness of carrots with the creamy richness of buttercream frosting. In this guide, we'll walk you through a fantastic method for creating a delicious vanilla iced carrot cake, perfect for serving at any special occasion or simply as a comforting treat at home.

Ingredients for the Carrot Cake

2 cups of grated carrots 200g walnuts, roughly chopped and divided 100g sultanas 3 large eggs 340g vegetable oil 150g sugar 150g plain flour 25g self-raising flour 1 tsp mixed spices 1 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp baking powder 50g orange zest 50ml orange juice

Preparation Steps

Soak Sultanas in Orange Zest and Juice: If you have the time, place orange zest and juice in a bowl along with the sultanas and let them sit overnight. If this isn't possible, stir the zest, juice, and sultanas together, and microwave on Medium for 1-2 minutes. Preheat Oven and Prepare Tins: Preheat your oven to 180C (160C with fan convection, gas mark 4). Grease and line a 2lb loaf tin. This will ensure your cake doesn't stick during baking. Combine Dry Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the vegetable oil and eggs. Stir together the sugar, flour, mixed spices, cinnamon, and baking powder in the same bowl. Gradually add the sultanas with any leftover juice and zest, along with the grated carrots and half of the chopped walnuts. Whisk the egg mixture into the dry ingredients until a smooth batter forms. Use a wooden spoon to thoroughly mix. Bake the Carrot Cake: Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf tin, spreading it out evenly. Bake on the middle shelf for approximately 1 hour or until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow the cake to cool in the tin for 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack to cool completely.

Vanilla Icing Recipe

While the cake is cooling, prepare the icing. Mixing butter, cream cheese, and sugar with vanilla extract can create a delicious soft and creamy frosting that complements the moisture and hearty flavors of the cake perfectly.

Vanilla Icing Ingredients:

100g cream cheese, softened 150g unsalted butter, softened 300g icing sugar 1 tsp ground cinnamon A few drops of vanilla extract

Preparation Steps for Vanilla Icing

Beat the Frosting: In a large bowl, use an electric whisk to beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add the icing sugar and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy. Pour in the cinnamon and vanilla extract, and beat until fully incorporated. Frost the Carrot Cake: Once the frosting is fully whipped and smooth, spread it over the top of the cooled cake with a sharp palette knife. Use a piping bag to pipe curls of frosting around the edges of the cake, or add decorative touches with the remaining walnuts.

Tips and Variations

To enhance the color and flavor of your carrot cake, consider these tips:

Add a teaspoon of ground cardamom to the dry ingredients for a subtle spice. Replace some of the sultanas with cranberries or cherries for a pop of color and flavor. Use grated peeled carrots from a block or pouch for convenience and uniformity.

For those looking for a lighter frosting option, some cake lovers prefer a buttercream frosting made from just a couple of egg whites beaten into a stiff peak with sugar, then added to a base of softened butter. This will yield a light and whipped frosting without the tang of cream cheese.

Conclusion

Enjoy creating your own homemade vanilla iced carrot cake. Whether you're making it for a dinner party, a holiday gathering, or just for yourself, this treat is sure to be a success. The combination of textures and flavors in this cake makes it a favorite among cake enthusiasts. Give it a try and let us know how it turns out in the comments below!