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Wednesday 12 September 2012

CARROT CAKE OR IT'S ALIAS WALNUT CAKE

Good Morning to you,

When I lived in Cyprus, I used to make Carrot Cake for my Cypriot friends.  They liked the rich texture of this cake, BUT..... I could not call it Carrot Cake, because if I did,  my friends would not eat it, so the cake was renamed Walnut Cake!



 It was my turn to host our Morning Sewing Group and I thought a Carrot Cake would make a nice edition to the table.   I baked the cake and placed it on the table with other baked goodies.  My Cypriot friend (who shall remain nameless as I don't want to embarrass her) took a piece  and said how delicious it was. She then  asked me the name of the cake.  I said it was called Carrot Cake, at which point she put the cake down and asked "Why would you put carrots in a cake, they are a vegetable".  I explained how the carrots helped to make this a very moist cake, but you could tell by her facial expression that she  really was not convinced. You can imagine her total    surprise, when I told her the topping was a mixture of cream cheese and icing sugar!  Well, that was just too much, carrots and cheese in a cake, she said that wasn't right.  Suffice it to say,  although she enjoyed the cake, before finding out what was in it, she put the cake down and didn't finish it.  She  enjoyed a slice of  Lemon Cake instead, which to her was much more acceptable, as yes it was right to put lemons in a cake!

.....and so my humble Carrot Cake was reinvented as a Walnut Cake!




INGREDIENTS





250g plain flour
250g soft brown sugar
pinch of slat
1 tsp baking powder
2 tsp ground cinnamon
175ml sunflower oil
2 large eggs, lightly whisked
1 tsp vanilla essence
500 g grated carrot
125g walnuts, chopped
50 g dessicated coconut




 CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

250g soft cheese
250g icing sugar
1 tbsp lemon juice


METHOD

Butter and line a 20 cm cake tin
Bake at 180c/Gas Mark 4 for 1 1/4 hours


Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl
Add the oil, eggs, vanilla and mix until the ingredients are combined.




 Add the carrots and mix thoroughly.
Add the walnuts and coconut and stir.




 Place into baking tin





 Place in the oven for 1 hour 15 minutes
Place a skewer into the centre of the cake, if it comes out clean then the cake is cooked.






Place on a wire baking rack to cool 



 Whilst the cake is cooling make the cheese frosting.

Soften the cheese with a fork, then slowly add the sifted icing sugar, beat well until mixed. (If you have a mixer this will be a lot quicker)

Stir in the lemon juice




When the cake has cooled cover the top with the cream cheese frosting. 



 As you can see from the photograph, this is a dense, moist cake.




This was George's portion! 


This week I shall be joining:

at Savvy Southern Style
at StoneGable
at Robyn's View
at Sew Many Ways



See you later in the week, take care until then,


Best Wishes



Daphne xxx




13 comments:

  1. We make this cake with carrots,here in GreeceYou can find it in bacaries!I love the icing top!!I,ll try to make it!So you lived in Cyprus!Did you learn any greek words?Wish you a lovely day!
    Dimi..

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    Replies
    1. Kalispera Dimi, Yes I did learn some Greek words and I really enjoyed living in Cyprus. I hope you enjoy making the cake.... my husband loved it. Best Wishes Daphne

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  2. That looks so delicious! I can literally see how moist the cake is...and cream cheese frosting...yum! Wish I had a slice right now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Gina, Thank you for your kind comments.It really is a tasty cake, I'm not sure if children would enjoy it as it might be a little too dense, but we love it. I wish I could send you a slice to enjoy with your morning coffee. Take Care, Best Wishes Daphne

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  3. Daphne, no matter what you call it, it sure does look delicious. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Linda, If you do make this cake, let me know what you think. It's good to share recipes, some will be enjoyed and others not so, but that's ok it's about sharing. Best Wishes Daphne

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  4. It looks absolutely deicious
    would love a sice with a cup of tea

    I was looking for a nice recipe
    and visited your blog and have found one!

    Happy days!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Fiona, it is a really nice cake, very moist and very easy to make. Hope you enjoy it. Best Wishes Daphne

      Delete
  5. Hello,

    So glad you came to comment, now I am a follower. I do hope you try some of my recipes! I would love to know what you think.

    Looking forward to trying this cake.

    Have a fabulous day, Elizabeth

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Good Morning Elizabeth, Thank you for visiting. I shall certainly try some of your recipes as I love baking especially when it is something I haven't tried before.
      Have a good day. Best Wishes Daphne

      Delete
    2. Daphne, What a funny story! Carrot cake is one of my absolute favorite cakes and I'd have love to have been at your sewing group, because I'd have been first in line for a piece of your carrot cake. Yum!
      I'm so ready for a slice right now, and I like the addition of lemon juice to the frosting..great idea... and now I'm craving carrot cake. :) Have a great weekend,
      Babs
      PS...Are you a Downton Abbey fan?

      Delete
  6. Hello Babs, Yes it was funny at the time, my other sewing friends were smiling when she was telling me that carrots and cheese are not put into a sweet cake. I certainly should have invited you to our Sewing Group as you would have led by example and eaten the cake, which incidentally I love aswell. Poor lady I think I traumatised her. Ooooh yes, I am a Downton Abbey fan.... the third series begins on Sunday and I've booked my "seat" in our tv room! It is going to be great fun with Shirley MacLaine and Maggie Smith. Apparently Shirley is the mother in law and is a bit of a tartar, so I can see Shirley and Maggie coming to loggerheads. When will it be showing in America as I don't want to say anything about it when it's shown on Sunday and spoil it for you. Enjoy your weekend. Best Wishes Daphne

    ReplyDelete
  7. Good Morning Daphne :)
    That is one delicious looking cake!
    I wouldn't have hesitated to try it, carrots or no... just because it looks too delicious to pass up!!

    Thank you for sharing your recipe, and for the story about your 'Walnut Cake'... love it!!

    Have a wonderful weekend!

    *smile
    K.

    ReplyDelete

Dear Friends,

It is so wonderful to know you enjoy reading Ivy, Phyllis and Me! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment. I really do appreciate it.

Best wishes to you.

Daphne

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