Recently I have become the designated baker of cakes for a few functions. I thank God. So far I’ve baked cakes for a bridal shower and around 3 birthdays and thanks to some whipping cream and strawberries I’ve been able to pull the whole look together. Now the thing with my cakes is that I have only been making chocolate banana cakes. So recently my friend Nzilani asked for a carrot cake, new challenge? Why not.
I had only eaten a carrot cake once before and it’s my brother who had baked it. I decided to first bake one and see how it turns out before I can make for one dear Nzilani. After a few searches on google I felt confident enough to embark on this new baking adventure. Whoop! Whoop!
Ingredients
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tbsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp ground nutmeg
1 tbsp baking soda
2/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla essence
3 cups finely grated carrots
2/3 crushed pineapple (juice drained)
1/2 cup sultanas/ raisins
As usual start by pre heating your oven at 350º F
Then grease and lightly dust your baking tin. I also put some piece of parchment paper.
This cake is pretty simple to make, the only tasking part being the part you grate the carrots and crush the pineapples.
Start by putting the flour,sugar,cinnamon,nutmeg and baking soda in a mixing bowl.
Mix all the dry ingredients then add the vegetable oil.
Add the eggs and vanilla essence next.
The finely grated carrots.
I bet you can buy a can of crushed pineapple from the supermarket but if you wanna be frugal like me, just get around 2 pineapple slices, chop them finely then crush whilst passing through a strainer. Set aside the juice for a relaxing drink after the rigorous baking.
Anyway back to the cake, before that, I wanna thank hubby, he did the grating of the carrots and crushing of the pineapples all the while acting as the photographer. Thanks hun.
After mixing in the wet ingredients i.e oil and eggs into the dry ingredient mixture the batter will look a bit thick. You will be tempted to add some water but do what I did and resist the urge, I’ll tell you the reason later.
Finally add in the carrots, sultanas and pineapples.
After mixing them in I realised that the batter become light, must be the moisture from the carrots and the pineapples. So need to add any more water.
Pour the batter onto your prepared baking tin.
Bake for about 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Verdict:
Moist and tasty. I was very proud of the results. I’m definitely trying this again and again. Next I think I’ll make carrot cupcakes.
I’m yet to bake one for Nzilani since currently she’s not into sugar.
hey,you forgot to say how mine is the superior! 😛 hehe…
he he he he very funny. I’ve just helped publicise your blog and that’s how you thank me?
[…] onto the fun part, to celebrate the blog turning one, I’m doing a giveaway. A carrot cake giveaway. The rules are pretty simple, just leave a comment telling me which of my recipes […]
Hello, I tried this out over the weekend, it was edible but i must have done something wrong. Let me ask, how come the recipe has no baking powder yet it uses all purpose flour? Thanx
The recipe uses baking soda not baking powder. what did you use?
I used baking soda, thanx, ill try it out again
Trying this tomorrow, God help me
Hey Pauline?
How did it go?
I followed instructions to the latter yet it backfired. Glad that i tried it though!
Oh no! Was it the taste? Did it sink? Let me know what happened, would olive for it to work out the next time.
Woop! woop!! tried baking carrot cake too. It was just perfect!!! 🙂 :-). Used Almonds instead of Raisins/sultanas. Also used both baking soda and baking powder. I could do it all over again but reduce the amount of sugar since pineapples and carrots already have sugar.
Awesome. I love your use of almonds.
where do I buy the parchment paper??
Hey Gathoni? You can get it from Walibhai karim in town along biashara street.
Hey? You can get it from Walibhai karim in town along biashara street.
Hey? You can get it from Walibhai karim in town along biashara street
Hey Gathoni? You can get it from Walibhai karim in town along biashara street.
Hi Gathoni? Sorry for the delay in replying. You can get them from Walibhai karim in town along biashara street.
Hi. Thanks for all your fabulous recipes… I tried baking the carrot cake but it sunk fork went in and came out clean. What did i do wrong?
Hi? Woi, that’s sad. A few things might have happened. Either you baked it on a low temperature or you kept opening the oven to check on it.
Thanks dear. I’m on my second try today… No peeking
Hi?
Fingers crossed! How did it go?
whoop whoop it came out perfect! Didn’t peek and also bought new baking powder. I think the baking powder I initially used had over stayed lol
Yippee!! We have a winner. Enjoy your cake!
Purposing to bake this today……..cant wait!
Going to buy the pineapple….. never tried it with this.
I know i can google this but i trust your answers.
When do you use baking soda and not the powder?
Awesome.
Both baking soda and baking powder are leavening agents and baking soda is generally used in baked goods that have an acidic element like buttermilk (mala) , something citrus to activate it.
For baking powder,it has baking soda and an acidic element in it.
You can substitute baking soda with baking powder but not vice versa
So i managed to bake, it burnt on top. Googled and the reason might me high temp. My oven is a celcius not Farenheit..i convert 350F to 176, and thats what i used.
What would be the other reason? Its cooked well inside.
Other than that it was awesome…delicious…
Oh bummer, sorry about that.
Where in the oven did you place the tin?
The middle of the oven is best.
Tried this recipe today and the cake is amazing. Your recipes are timeless. Thank you
yay! you’re welcome. This makes me very happy.