Bunny’s Garden Carrot Cake

Cook Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Desserts and Bread

Ingredients
  

  • Parchment paper
  • Vegetable oil spray
  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 eggs room temperature slightly beaten
  • ¾ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • cup cooked shredded carrots* see instructions below
  • 1-8 oz. can of crushed pineapple in its own juice drained
  • ¾ cup chopped walnuts toasted in a 350 degree F oven for 8 minutes-optional
  • ¾ cup golden raisins

Equipment

  • 12" Large Skillet
  • 1 Quart Saucepan

Method
 

*Shredded Carrots: Fresh carrots are the best.
  1. Wash, peel, and cut 3-4 small carrots into one-inch rounds.
  2. Place the carrots in your 1 Quart Saucepan.
  3. Rinse the carrots in the pan and pour out any excess liquid.
  4. Cover pan and place over medium heat.
  5. Cook until steam just begins to escape from under the lid, about 5 minutes
  6. Spin the lid to engage the vapor seal. Immediately reduce heat to low.
  7. Cook for 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat. Allow the pan to rest, covered for 4 minutes. Carrots should be soft but not mushy.
  8. Cool the carrots.
  9. Shred carrots in a food processor using the pulse option several times.
Carrot Cake
  1. Sift together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, and kosher salt in a large bowl. Stir to combine.
  2. Stir the walnuts and raisins into the flour mixture and then set aside.
  3. Whisk together the eggs and oil in a medium bowl. Add the vanilla, shredded carrots, and pineapple. Stir to combine.
  4. Fold the wet mixture into the dry mixture just enough to combine. Do not over mix.
  5. Pour the batter into the cold skillet pan. Cover the pan and place on low heat.
  6. Spin the lid to engage the vapor seal. Cook on low temperature for approximately 20-25 minutes.
  7. Check the doneness of the cake by removing lid and inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake. The toothpick should come out clean. Remove the pan from the heat and allow it to sit, covered for 15-20 minutes.
  8. Remove the lid and allow the cake to rest for 10 minutes uncovered. The top of the cake will be very moist but not raw. Run a blade, if necessary, around edge of pan to free the sides of the cake.
  9. Remove the cake from the pan by placing a cooling rack over the sauté pan. Invert cake onto cooling rack. Allow cake to cool.
  10. Serve by itself, with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, or frost with our decadent Buttery Cream Cheese Frosting.

Notes

Tip: I keep a collection of toasted nutmeats handy: walnuts, pecans, macadamias, etc. They stay fresh in the freezer for months and will be ready to use whenever you need them.