MAGNIFICENT CARROT CAKE

Magnificent Carrot Cake image

If you're looking for something a little more traditional, nothing says Easter like a homemade carrot cake covered in rich cream cheese frosting. A touch of rum extract lends wonderful flavor to every bite of this baked-from-scratch indulgence.-Melanie Madeira, Dallas, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h10m

Yield 16 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 26

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup canola oil
3 large eggs
3 teaspoons rum extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
2 cups shredded carrots
1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple, drained
3/4 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup dried currants
GLAZE:
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup butter, cubed
1/2 teaspoon corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
FROSTING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
2/3 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
4 teaspoons rum extract

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, beat sugar, buttermilk, oil, eggs and extract until well blended. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and allspice; gradually beat into sugar mixture until blended. Stir in carrots, pineapple, walnuts and currants., Transfer to two greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean., Meanwhile, for glaze, combine sugar, buttermilk, butter, corn syrup and baking soda in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook and stir 4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla., Pour glaze over hot cakes; cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and extract; beat until smooth., Place one cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 1 cup frosting. Top with remaining cake layer. Frost top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 681 calories, Fat 35g fat (14g saturated fat), Cholesterol 99mg cholesterol, Sodium 449mg sodium, Carbohydrate 85g carbohydrate (68g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 7g protein.