Carrot and Pineapple Cake

I finally had some time to edit my recipe page..so the next few posts are nothing new, just finally adding the recipes to some of the things that were made this past year and are repeat-worthy!

This cake was from daddy's birthday where we made Carrot and Pineapple Cake via Ina Garten and it was a huge success.

This cake is rather time consuming so make sure you have plenty of time on your hands before you begin! It is also a very rich cake, the amount of sugar, eggs and oil seems a bit well, gross, but once you taste this you will forget about the contents, it's that good.

Carrot and Pineapple Cake

Adapted from Ina Garten

For the Cake:

2 cups granulated sugar

1 1/3 cups vegetable oil

3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature*

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, divided

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

1 cup raisins

1 pound carrots, grated**

1/2 cup fresh diced pineapple***

1/2 cup shredded coconut

For the frosting:

3/4 pound cream cheese, at room temperature

1/2 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 pound confectioners' sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Heavily grease 2-8 inch round cake pans

For the Cake:

1. Beat the sugar, oil, and eggs together until light yellow.

2. Add the vanilla

3. In a separate bowl, mix together 2 1/2 cups flour, the cinnamon, baking soda and salt.

4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet.

5. Toss the raisins with 1 tablespoon flour.

6. Fold in the carrots and pineapple and add to the batter, mix well.

7. Divide batter equally between the two pans. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Allow cakes to cool completely in the pans over a wire rack.

For the Frosting:
1. Mix the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in a bowl with an electric mixer until combined.
2. Add sugar and mix until smooth.
3. Place 1 layer, flat-side up on your serving platter of choice, spread the top with frosting.
4. Place the second layer rounded side up and spread the frosting on the top and all over the sides to cover thoroughly.

*I have been told from a very reliable source, actually putting the eggs at room temperature makes a difference :)

**Buy your carrots already shredded, we did not, talk about a pain and add more time.

***We used canned pineapple, drained.