THIS BIG CARROT CAKE RATES AN ‘OUTSTANDING’. AND THAT WAS BEFORE ANDREW ADDED THE TOPPING
Full of grated carrots, shredded coconut, walnuts, and raisins, this carrot cake has a lemon-y cream cheese filling separating its three layers. This is not one of those spice cakes masquerading as Carrot Cake. It’s from Dorie Greenspan’s “Baking: From My Home to Yours” (Houghton Mifflin, 2006). Dorie gives full credit and names the cake after its original creator, Bill Bartholomew. Mr. Bartholomew, a jeweler, appeared at the Greenspan’s door with the cake quite frequently. I am sure he received a warm welcome every time he did. About the lemon-y cream cheese icing: It is used between the layers of the cake, but not on the sides, so it never overwhelms the carrot-y goodness.
ABOUT THE CANDIED CARROT TOPPING…
You might call this guilding the lily, but Andrew baked this for a wonderful party, good friends gave over the Memorial Day weekend. Since their home is well known for its fantastic food, he wasn’t about to disappoint with dessert. So off he went to a British baker’s site, lauded for its array of Gluten-Free recipes. It’s called “From The Larder” and is well worth looking at https://fromthelarder.co.uk/. Its author, Georgina Hartley, has this to say about her Candied Carrot topping: “These Frosted Candied Carrots will look stunning atop any carrot cake. They not only look beautiful but they taste of sweet, earthy carrots too and add another lovely crunch and flavour to your bake. Simple to make and they keep for ages, so they are easy to make ahead.” Andrew also added two ‘rings’ of toasted pecans–seen at right atop his magnificent carrot cake.
TRY THIS AND YOU MAY NEVER LOOK FOR ANOTHER CARROT CAKE RECIPE EVER AGAIN. RECIPE FOR THE CANDIED CARROT TOPPING FOLLOWS AFTER THE CAKE ITSELF.
BILLS BIG CARROT CAKE
by Dorie Greenspan
Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, rotating the pans from top to bottom and front to back at the midway point, until a thin knife inserted into the centers comes out clean; the cakes will have just started to come away from the sides of the pans. Transfer the cakes to cooling racks and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cakes and un-mold them. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up.
CANDIED CARROTS
These Frosted Candied Carrot Decorations will looks stunning atop any carrot cake. They not only look beautiful but they taste of sweet, earthy carrots too and add another lovely crunch and flavour to your bake. Simple to make and they keep for ages so are easy to make ahead.
Ingredients
- 2 carrots - grated, about 250g
- 125 g water
- 100 g caster sugar + 2 tablespoons extra for coating
Directions
- Step 1 1 Pre-heat the oven to 180°C / 160°C fan assisted /gas mark 4 or 350°F.
- Step 2 Pour the water and sugar into a medium-sized saucepan and bring to a boil. Then turn down to a simmer for 2 minutes.
- Step 3 Add the carrot and leave to simmer for a further 5 minutes.
- Step 4 Strain the carrots and pat dry.
- Step 5 Place on a baking parchment-lined tray and bake on the middle shelf of the oven for 12 minutes.
- Step 6 Turn off the oven, remove the carrots, toss them around the tray with a spoon, and return the carrots to the oven. Leave the door open and allow the sugared carrots to dry out (overnight if possible).
- Step 7 Once the carrot shreds are ever so slightly tacky (but crucially not wet), then toss them in a clean bowl with the extra 2 tablespoons caster sugar to frost and sparkle.
…a certifiable, unqualified, ecstatic Y-U-M from another, nameless guest that evening.
Dear Crabby, I apologize for leaving you out! I am so glad you liked the recipe. I promise to mention you the next time! Monte
I found Ms. Greenspan carrot cake recipe years ago and use it whenever we want carrot cake (sorry but for us it’s hold the raisins). This recipe even converted my daughter-in-law into a carrot cake lover. My granddaughter has recently tried her hand at making it for Easter and did a wonderful job!
Three generations of bakers! What a tribute that is to their mother and grandmother. Now you can Candy the Carrots and see what they think. Thanks so much for taking the time to write. Andrew and Monte