DAN'S MILE HIGH BIRTHDAY CARROT CAKE

DAN'S MILE HIGH BIRTHDAY CARROT CAKE image

My husband had a recent birthday, and asked me to surprise him with a dessert for his birthday that I had never made. So knowing that he loves carrot cake, I CREATED this special recipe for his big day. It is a 4 layer cake with nuts and pineapple, with a Fall Themed Cream Cheese Frosting using Instant Pumpkin Pie Spice Pudding...

Provided by Rose Mary Mogan

Time 1h20m

Number Of Ingredients 23

Ingredients

6 large eggs, room temperature
1 1/2 c sugar
1 1/2 c light brown sugar
2 1/4 c canola oil
4 c white lily all purpose flour (or cake flour)
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp baking soda
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 tsp kosher salt
11/2 Tbsp vanilla bean paste or extract
3 c grated carrots lightly packed
1 can(s) 20 oz. crushed pineapples undrained
2 1/2 c nuts of your choice (i used black walnuts)
1/2 c candy corn & chopped nuts as garnish (optional)
PUMPKIN SPICE CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
2 box pumpkin pie spice instant pudding mix (3.4 oz.)
2 pkg softened cream cheese (1 lb)
1/2 lb greek yogurt butter or regular
2 lb powdered sugar(confectioners sugar)
1 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 Tbsp vanilla bean paste or extract
1/2 to 3/4 c heavy whipping cream

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. GREASE AND FLOUR 4 (9 INCH) ROUND OR SQUARE CAKE PANS. I chose to use Bakers Joy cooking spray that has flour in the spray.
2. Using a medium size bowl, add a sifter or strainer over the bowl. Then add the flour, cinnamon nutmeg, baking soda, & baking powder . Sift and set aside till needed. Add kosher salt, mine did not go through strainer, stir in to blend with other ingredients. NOTE SIFTING MAKES THE CAKE LIGHTER. SET ASIDE TILL NEEDED.
3. Grate carrots then measure out 3 cups and set aside till needed.
4. Add the eggs to mixing bowl and beat till blended together.
5. Then add both sugars, and oil and beat till blended together.
6. Now add in the flour mixture in 3 intervals beating well after each addition. Then add in the vanilla Bean paste or extract, and beat till blended.
7. Add the grated carrots, undrained crushed pineapples, and nuts, and stir till blended.
8. Divide and pour batter evenly among the 4 cake pans. Bake in preheated 350 degree F. oven for 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Or cake begins to pull away from sides of pan.
9. Cool in pan about 5 minutes or so, then invert cakes onto cooling rack and allow to cool completely.
10. While cakes are cooling prepare cake frosting by adding the softened butter and cream cheese to large bowl, then beat well till mixed together. Now add in the pudding mix and about half of the powdered sugar, and slowly begin to blend together, then gradually add in the remaining powdered sugar alternately with heavy whipping cream a little at a time, add in the vanilla bean paste, and nutmeg, and stir till completely blended and creamy, or desired spreading consistency is reached. Add more whipping cream if a creamier spreading consistency is needed.
11. Garnish if desired with your choice of garnish, I used candy corns and chopped nuts.
12. Slice and enjoy. This slice was so big that my husband and I shared it together.