Can you believe my horse, Buddy, doesn’t like carrots or apples?

I made this cake for my oldest sister’s birthday a couple weeks ago. It’s a traditional carrot cake with a couple twists. Currants in lieu of raisins, limited spices, and grated pear for extra moisture. I also included goat cheese in the frosting, unexpected tang with every sweet bite!

In case you want something less traditional, try this Cocoa Carrot Cake with Cocoa Crumble. I also made this a couple weeks ago for a party. Unlike the recipe, I baked mine in a 9”x13” pan for about an hour and cut into individual squares for serving. My take on a Coffee Cake with a W O W factor.

Celebrate the Indian Summer we have all been enjoying and EAT CAKE this week!

Country Carrot Cake // serves 12 to 15

1 ½ c. canola oil
2 c. sugar
3 eggs
2 c. grated carrots
1 c. grated pear
2 ½ c. flour
1 tsp. soda
½ tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. vanilla
½ c. currants

Preheat oven to 350 F.

With an electric mixer, mix together wet ingredients. Sift together dry ingredients and whisk together. Slowly add dry mixture to wet mixture in batches. Stir in currants.

Spray two 9-inch circular cake pans and line with parchment paper. Spray again and dust with flour. Divide batter into two pans and bake for 35 to 45 minutes. Insert a toothpick at 35 minutes. If removed and clean, cake is done baking. If not clean, bake for remaining 10 minutes.

Allow cakes to cool for 20 minutes. Run a knife along the edge and invert onto a cooling rack.

Frosting

8 oz goat cheese, room temperature
8 oz cream cheese, room temperature
½ c. butter, room temperature
3 Tbs. maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
3 c. powdered sugar
¼ c. toasted pecans, for topping

In a mixing bowl with whisk attachment add cheese, butter, maple syrup, and vanilla and whisk until smooth. Add powdered sugar in batches and continue whisking until smooth and creamy.

I like to individually wrap the cooled cakes in saran and freeze before frosting. I think it makes frosting a cake a lot easier. I am not too methodical when it comes to frosting but here is a step by step process for mastering layer cakes.