The winner of yesterday’s Rachel Ray “Bubble & Brown” 4.25 qt. stoneware oval casserole in orange is Tiffany who said: “mmmmmmm anything with peanut butter is what I would choose!” Hope your dish gets a lot of great use Tiffany!
Today is the last day of my blogoversay week. 
It has been a fun week! I had a great party week with all of you. I am ending it with one of my favorite desserts, Carrot Cake! Now, I know right now is not what is considered the “holiday’s” and the cake is called Holiday Carrot Cake, but this cake is great for anytime of year. It would be great for Mother’s Day. I had this cake at my in-laws at Christmas and had to have the recipe. It came from the Nov. 29, 2009 issue of Family Circle.
The cake is delicious and the frosting is to die for! The original recipe calls for dried cranberries, but my in-laws used raisins. This is what I also did. I am usually not a big fan of raisins, but I love it in this cake. The cake is suppose to be four layers, but I was too afraid the cake was going to fall apart when I made mine so I only did two layers. Part of my issue may have been due to the fact that instead of doing two nine inch rounds I used my Demarle large round mold (which is 9.5 inches) and did the whole cake in that and just cooked it longer. It probably would have helped to refrigerate or freeze the cake a bit before trying to cut it into layers.
If I make it again with 2 layers, I will put a frosting layer in the middle and then frost the entire cake with the remaining frosting. My top frosting layer was a little to thick in my opinion and would have worked better if it was more evenly distributed.
For my final blogoversary giveaway I have a lovely sterling silver necklace with a natural blue topaz (approximately 2.5 carats ) courtesy of Ashley’s Jewelry. To enter, go to Ashley’s Jewlery and look around. Then come back here and leave a comment on what item you like from their site. You have until Sunday April 25 at 10 pm (MST) to enter. Just so you know, the necklace looks better in real life. I take pictures of food, so I am not so great at jewelry.
Holiday Carrot Cake
- 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
- 1-1/2 cups vegetable oil
- 4 eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 medium-size carrots, peeled and shredded (about 2 cups)
- 3/4 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries (I used raisins)
- Frosting:
- 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups confectioners’ sugar
- cranberries and walnuts, for garnish (I just used walnuts)
1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat two 9 x 2-inch round cake pans with cooking spray. Line bottoms with waxed paper. Coat paper with spray.
2. Cake: In medium-size bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt. In large bowl, beat sugars, oil, eggs and vanilla on medium speed until blended. On low, beat in flour mixture until smooth. Stir in carrots, nuts and cranberries. Divide batter between pans, spreading evenly.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 42 to 44 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Turn out and cool completely.
4. Frosting: In large bowl, beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until creamy. Gradually beat in confectioners sugar until smooth.
5. With serrated knife, cut each cake horizontally in half. Place one layer on cake plate and spread with 1 cup frosting. Repeat two more times with layers and frosting. Place remaining layer, cut-side down, on top and spread with remaining frosting. Garnish with berries and nuts. Makes 16 servings.
I love getting comments on my blog, it helps fuel talk and allows humans to feel like they can become involved in the chat. I tend to agree. It’s a awesome way.
lmao amazing info dude.
I think that necklace is beautiful. I can’t believe the prices on their men’s rings.
i think ashley’s are going to be in high demand for the anniversary bands!!!! both of them are beautiful… and i hope i can talk my husband into the 5/8 ctw. band before someone else does!!!! thanks!
Well we bought a ring for my husband!!!!!! His ring has been broken for over 20 years. We went on to Ashley’s Jewelry and we found him a ring. We bought the 8mm Tungsten ring, black carbon fiber inlay. The best part was, it was only $29.99!!!!! Thanks Laura
Really like the Genuine checkerboard cut blue topaz silver & 14ky ring. Think it would match the necklace perfectly.
I love the 14 ct gold/stirling silver heart pendant and the onxy and stirling silver one too!
I must try out this recipe for my mom. She loves carrot cake.
I didn’t know you were celebrating your blogiversary!!! Oh goodness! HAPPY BLOGIVERSARY!
I like the “Catsandra the Cat Waggles Necklace in 14k Gold” and the Medical ID bracelet.
I loved the anniversary band..and the price seemed reasonable too!
I suppose it’s silly, but I loved the Donald the Dog necklace!
F. Plvan
fsplvan@syr.edu
I think the dog gold neglace was really cute!
http://www.ashleysjewelry.com/products/Genuine-Onyx-%26-Sterling-Silver-Pendant.html
I love the open weave anniversary band. It reminds me of a piece of estate jewelry. I’m a sucker for jewelry with history! Love it.
I love the diamond heart necklace! So pretty!
LOVE the jewelry! Even though I love your recipes even more! That cake looks to DIE for
I love the intricacies of the women’s anniversary bands. However, I have to say that by FAR my favorite is the diamond 14K heart necklace. It reminds me of a necklace a boyfriend gave me back in high school that I LOVED and have since lost.
I love the mens rings too. I wish they had a little more for women. But, I will definately get my husbands next ring from them!
I really like the 9mm beveled titanium band! It’s just like my husbands wedding band. I am thinking I should buy him a “spare” since he lost his ring once already (so happy we found it).
Love that necklace and cake!
I love the hear necklace and the puppy necklace. I loves dogs so that is such a cute necklace.
I absolutely LOVE the 8mm flat pipe cut tungsten ring high polished finish and such a fantastic price! I can’t wait to try this carrot cake recipe!
Love the Genuine Onyx & Sterling Silver Pendant. Simple but beautiful. Oh, and the carrot cake looks amazing!
Love the recipe and I liked their rings also and the sterling silver necklaces, especially the puppy were cute.
Loved the heart necklace with the diamond and the puppy necklace.
I like the rings on the site, esp. the anniversary band. The cake looks delicious!
I really liked the 1/2CT Diamond Ladies 14K Anniversary Band it was beautiful. I LOVE carrot cake but the hubby doesn’t like it. I bet this one will change his mind. Thanks for the great recipes.
I liked the heart pendant the best. Can’t wait to try the carrot cake! Yum!
I like the black and onyx sterling silver pendant, you could wear it with anything.
I love the silver & gold heart necklace!
I really love the cute dog necklace, the silver and onyx earrings and pendant, the openair anniversary band, oh and the heart necklace with the diamond!! What a great website….I am so glad you introduced me to it. And yours too…very exciting!
The men’s Tungsten rings are my favorite!
The most beautiful ring that I saw, and will be getting, is the 9mm dome titanium band enamel inlay ring. The colors remind me of a beautiful varigated yarn! I just love it. Thank you for having us go to that site. I am in love with a ring!
I’ll take the whole store please! I love all things sparkly…the heart necklace was super-d-dooper! I can’t wait to try this cake with a gluten free twist! Congrats on the blogeversary!
My mother-in-law recommended your blog! I am in love! Ashley’s jewelry really has men’s bands for 18.99? Unbelievable! I suppose I will get around to replacing the wedding band my hubby lost last year.
Yum! I just found out that I really like carrot cake! I definitely want to give this a try.
As for Ashley’s…definitely the diamond heart necklace.
The gold and silver heart pendant is too cute!
I LOVE the checkerboard cut blue topaz ring! I love rings and this one is beautiful. I am trying to get one ring that I wear to leave for each of my beautiful granddaughters..
I love the silver gold heart pendant. Adorable!
I love the gold/silver heart pendant! That is darling and unique. I’ve never seen anything like that!
Genuine checkerboard cut blue topaz silver & 14ky ring
I love blue topaz and that ring (and the necklace) are great!
I love the genuine diamond heart necklace! Maybe I should direct my husband to this website for a mother’s day idea.
I like their name best…can’t go wrong with a name like Ashley. Of course, I am biased since that is my name too.
I think the openwork anniversary band is beautiful! Sparkly things always are.
Love the 1/2 CT Diamond anniversary band! Maybe I can talk the hubby into it for a 7yr intead of a 10yr!
http://www.ashleysjewelry.com/products/1%7B47%7D2CT-Diamond-Ladies-14K-Anniversary-Band.html
I love your site and recipes too!