Walnut Carrot Cake Squares With Cream Cheese Frosting
- Cuisine: American
- Course: Dessert
Summary:
Can one ever have too much carrot cake, cookbook author Elinor Klivans asks. This version is studded with large pieces of toasted walnuts and has a cream cheese frosting topped with more nuts. The food processor makes quick work of chopping the carrots. Leave the cake in its pan for easy transport to a potluck or bake sale.
The cake can be made 1 day in advance, covered carefully and stored at room temperature.
9 to 12 servings
Ingredients:
For the cake- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup canola or corn oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1 1/3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/4 cups finely chopped or grated carrots
- 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts, toasted (see NOTE )
- 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
- 1 cup walnut halves, toasted (see NOTE)
Directions:
For the cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-inch-square baking pan.
Sift together the flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and cinnamon into the bowl of a stand mixer. On low speed, add the oil, mixing well; the mixture will look crumbly. Add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing for about 30 seconds, until smooth. Remove the bowl from the mixer; add the carrots and walnuts, stirring by hand until well combined. Transfer to the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes or until the top feels firm if gently touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool the cake in the pan for about 1 1/2 hours.
For the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer on low speed, beat the butter, cream cheese and vanilla extract until smoothly blended. Add the confectioners' sugar and beat until well combined, then increase the speed to medium for 1 minute to lighten the mixture. Spread the frosting over the top of the cooled cake. Sprinkle the walnut halves over the frosting. Cut into squares to serve.
NOTE: Toast walnuts in a dry skillet over medium-low heat for 4 to 6 minutes or until fragrant, shaking them occasionally to keep them from burning.
Recipe Source:
From Elinor Klivans.
E-mail the Food Section with recipe questions.
(Julia Ewan)
