Thursday, June 13, 2019

A Pretty little Carrot Cake in June


The other day (well, maybe a few weeks ago) I posted pictures of this carrot cake on Instagram and promised that the recipe would follow soon - well, that was a little ambitious on my part but today, only three months later, here it is, the recipe for what I claimed 'is the only carrot cake recipe you'll ever need'. The added pistachio nuts make all the difference to this pretty little carrot cake recipe. As does the presentation - like pretty flowers (the edible kind, please) and pretty cake plates (I suspect we all have a few of them in our cupboards).

And, yes, I have posted many Carrot Cake recipes before, like the (also very pretty) Gâteau aux Carottes inspired by a recipe from Pierre Hermé, the famous French pastry chef and chocolatier (HERE). Or the European-style Springtime Carrot Cake (HERE). Or Nigel Slater's Carrot Cake (HERE). So, basically, I am a carrot cake lover and believe that there is no such thing as having too many carrot cake recipes. Not only do I find them irrestible but also very versatile - one or two layers, with or without frosting, fancy, torn into small pieces, elegant or rustic - love them all.




Pretty little Carrot Cake

Ingredients

For the Cake
  • 250ml (8fl oz) sunflower oil (or use other neutral tasting vegetable oil suitable for baking)
  • 250g caster (superfine) sugar
  • 8g pure vanilla sugar (or use homemade vanilla sugar)
  • zest ½ orange, organic or untreated 
  • a pinch of fine sea salt
  • 3 eggs (L), free-range or organic
  • 250g (8oz) self-raising flour, sifted
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground ginger
  • 250g (8oz) carrots, organic, grated (you will need about 3 large carrots)
  • 100g (3½oz) unsalted pistachio nuts, coarsely chopped

For the Cream Cheese Frosting (optional)
  • 300 (10oz) cream cheese 
  • 75g (2½oz) icing sugar, sifted
  • zest ½ orange (untreated and/or organic)
  • 1 to 2tbsp orange juice, freshly squeezed




Preparation
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 180C° (356°F).
  2. Grease a shallow 20x30cm (8x12in) baking pan and line the base and sides with baking paper, extending the paper 5cm (2in) above the pan.
  3. Place the oil, sugar, vanilla sugar, orange zest and a pinch of salt in an electric mixer bowl and mix on a medium speed until well beaten. Reduce the speed of the mixer and gradually add the eggs, one by one, mixing after each addition.
  4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon and ginger.
  5. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and gently fold in until smooth.
  6. Fold in the grated carrots and half the chopped pistachio nuts. 
  7. Spoon the batter into the pan and smooth the surface.
  8. Bake for 35 to 40 mins, or until golden and firm to the touch. 
  9. Cool in the pan for about 10 mins, then, with the help of the overhanging baking paper, turn the cake out onto a wire rack to cool completely. 
  10. To make the icing, use a handheld electric beater to mix together all the ingredients until smooth and light.
  11. Either: spread over the top of the cake and sprinkle with the remaining nuts OR cut the cake into small (12) squares, dollop a bit of frostimg over each piece and decorate with pretty edible flowers and then sprinkle with the chopped pistachios.




Serve this pretty little carrot cake at your next afternoon tea party. Be it May or June or whatever month. It's always delicious.




13 comments:

  1. I love the spicing of your cake - gentle, unlike American carrot cake. And, thank you - no thick gooey frosting for me! Liebe Grüße aus on immer sonnigem und heißem Tucson.

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    1. Dear David, from the numerous Carrot Cake recipes I posted in the past, the ones without the heavy cream cheese frosting are, by far, my favorites ones - although, I must admit, that once in a while I do like to indulge in a slice of the frosted version.
      Liebe Grüße an dich und Mark - stay in the shade, if at all possible ;)
      Andrea

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  2. Andrea, I'm a carrot cake lover too and I haven't even posted a single carrot cake recipe on my blog! :) This one sounds completely delicious with the pistachios and the hint of orange in the cream cheese frosting. I will definitely try this recipe!

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    1. Marcelle, so nice to read that we share a carrot cake passion. Nutty, moist, with a hint spiciness and, of course, those lovely, naturally sweet grated carrots - a perfect dessert, if you ask me.
      Thank you for stopping by, my friend!

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  3. One of my favorite cakes, Andrea! And I love the idea with an orange infused cream cheese frosting! Delicious!!

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    1. Dear Liz, carrot cake is always wonderful, isn't it?!
      Thank you for stopping by, my friend!

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  4. these are beatiful ANdreea, I love carrots cakes (Im begin to visit my friends again afetr my accident (fall) hugs xo

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    1. Dear Gloria, nice to read that you are finally feeling better! And thank you for stopping by - carrot cakes are always good and we love them quite a bit!
      Wishing you a very speedy recovery, my friend!
      All the very best,
      Andrea



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  5. I love the idea of using pistachios with the carrots in this. Carrot cake is one of my all-time favorite desserts! These look lovely.

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    1. Dear Amy, isn't Carrot Cake the best - the only thing that is better than Carrot Cake (if you ask me) is Carrot Cake with Pistachios :)
      Thank you kindly for stopping by!
      Andrea

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  6. Oh, how I love carrot cake. I dare say I could probably eat it every day for breakfast!

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    1. Dear Colette, breakfast is a good time to enjoy Carrot Cake. I have been known to make Carrot Cake just for breakfast;)
      Thank you kindly for your nice comment, my friend!
      Andrea

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  7. Thank you for stopping by! Glad you like my Pretty Little Carrot Cake!
    Andrea

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