BEST EVER YUMMY CARROT CAKE!!!! (WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTING)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (If using a commercial convection oven, set it for 325 degrees on high fan).
• FOR THE CAKE:.
• Grease & flour four 12" round pans.
• Whisk first six ingredients in a large bowl until combined(flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt & cinnamon).
• In a separate smaller bowl, lightly beat oil, eggs & vanilla until combined.
• Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture until just combined.
• Carefully stir in the carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple & raisins until everything is evenly dispersed.
• Pour the batter into your greased & floured pans.
• Bake in the oven, turning half way through, until a toothpick comes out clean. When you lightly push on the cake it should spring back if it is done. (It takes about 25-30 minutes in a convection oven, but will probably take longer in a household oven).
• Cool the cake on cooling racks until it is room temperature. I cool mine in the fridge to speed things up -- but either way will work.
• FOR THE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING:.
• While the cake is baking & cooling you can make your frosting.
• Beat cream cheese & softened butter in your mixer until it is light & fluffy.
• With your mixer on low, slowly add the powdered sugar a little at a time so it doesn't fly out everywhere.
• Continue beating until the frosting is smooth.
• Add the vanilla to the frosting & continue to mix until combined.
• This frosting should be a thick fluffy consistency so you can spread it easily but it won't run.
• If you want a thinner frosting add less powdered sugar, if you want it thicker add more powdered sugar.
• TO ASSEMBLE CAKE:.
• When the cakes are cool, put a dollop of frosting on each one & spread around so there is an evenly covered layer (about 1/4" - 1/2" thick).
• If you put too much frosting it will squish out from the weight of the stacked cakes.
• Spread the remainder of the frosting on the sides of the cake.
• FOR THE CARROT DECORATIONS:.
• Take two small bowls of frosting.
• To one add green food coloring until you get a nice "carrot stem green" color.
• To the other bowl add red + yellow food coloring to make a nice "carrot orange" color.
• Add extra powdered sugar to each to make the frosting very thick. Then use a pastry bag to pipe little carrots with green stems on the top of the cake.
• You can use a zip-top bag with a tiny hole cut in the corner to pipe out the frosting carrots if you don't have a pastry bag.