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.
this place stands apart to put it mildly lmao
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post! I adore all things antiques, but in particular engagement rings.
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!
I love the 14K Yellow Gold / Sterling Silver Heart Pendant. The circle with the hearts is so cute. Would be a great gift for my mom. Love the cake recipe too!
I really like the Genuine Onyx & Sterling Silver Pendant and the necklace pictured on your blog is really beautiful too.
OOoooOoOo AAAaaaAhhhhh… i like the 5/8ct Diamond Ladies 14K Openwork Design Anniversary Band – wanna know why? It look like a crown! I’d feel like a queen wearing it : )
I love this anniversary band: http://www.ashleysjewelry.com/products/5%7B47%7D8ct-Diamond-Ladies-14K-Openwork-Design-Anniversary-Band.html
I like the open design anniversary band, are you reading this husband?
I like the diamond heart necklace.
I love the topaz ring. It is gorgeous. I also love your site and all the yummy recipes!
I really like the Genuine Onyx & Sterling Silver Earrings.
And my boys love carrot cake but I haven’t ever made it for them, perhaps now is the time.
I loved the diamond heart necklace. I have always wanted a heart necklace. The piece your giving away is beautiful too.
I like the 5/8ct Diamond Ladies 14K Openwork Design Anniversary Band.
Carrot cake is my favorite. Thanks for the giveaway. Staci
I love the Genuine checkerboard cut blue topaz silver & 14ky ring! I love this ring!
I like the checkerboard cut topaz ring. Lovely!
I love the open work anniversary band.
The 14K two-tone hinged earrings! This has been fun–thanks for having a party to celebrate your blogiversary!
definitely the titanium band with the enamel inlay.
The 1/2CT Diamond Ladies 14K Anniversary Band looks like a beautiful blogeversary present.
It’s beautiful and i love your site!
Love the gold heart pendant! Thanks so much for all your great recipes.
I liked the 8mm domed tungsten ring. It it simple and very pretty. Thanks-Shannon
I love the donald the dog,but all the peices are pretty! Thanks for sharing.
Wow! All the rings are gorgeous!
I would have to say the “.03ct tw Genuine Diamond 14k Heart Necklace” would be my favorite piece over at Ashley’s. Thanks for the carrot cake recipe. I love carrot cake and can’t wait to try this out.
I like the genuine onyx and sterling silver pendant and earrings.
My favorite on the webiste has to be the 5/8ct Diamond Ladies 14K Openwork Design Anniversary Band! Very unique!
I also love the Genuine checkerboard cut blue topaz silver & 14ky ring.. the men’s rings are cool too.. I could get a beautiful titanium ring for my husband.. He would love it!! Can’t wait to make the carrot cake.. All your recipes look so yummy!!
I like the open anniversary band.
I love the Sterling earrings!!! And I will definitely be making this carrot cake.
~Lynette
Wow Laura, this is the most amazing giveaway ever!! The necklace is BEAUTIFUL!! I checked out the Ashley’s Jewelry website and they have some amazing jewelry, it’s hard to pick a favorite!! The Genuine checkerboard cut blue topaz silver & 14ky ring is stunning though, I LOVE it!
my husband keeps saying he’d like to get me an anniversary ring…so I’d like the 5/8ct Diamond Ladies 14K Openwork Design Anniversary Band
I like the titanium ring with the swirls!
I love the 5/8ct Diamond Ladies 14K Openwork Design Anniversary Band
The black onyx and sterling silver necklace are super pretty. Thanks for the carrot cake recipe. It is my mother-in-law’s favorite.
I would definitely want the 5/8ct Diamond Ladies 14K Openwork Design Anniversary Band!! Beautiful, and you could even wear it as a right hand ring
I’m a huge fan of sterling silver, especially those earrings!
The onyx and sterling silver earrings are beautiful. I’ve just started wearing earrings…make me feel less frumpy!
I love your recipes! They have down to earth ingredients, not too difficult to make and yet they look and taste like they were prepared by a chef!
I was impressed with Ashley’s Jewelry website. Beautiful pieces but at reasonable prices. The genuine checkerboard cut blue topaz silver & 14ky ring caught my eye. I think it would look great with your necklace and blue is my favorite color. Appreciate your website, keep up the great work! You are helping us become better one home at a time.\
I like the black Onyx & Sterling necklace and earings. I always pick brown and now have nothing in black.
I love carrot cake. Thanks for the great recipes.
Lindsey
i love the heart necklace! i love the blog, congrats!
I would love to get a tungsten or titanium ring for my husband. He lost his wedding ring in our first year of marriage and we never replaced it. Yesterday was our 13th anniversary…
I like the tungsten and titanium rings for my hubby. his wedding ring is looking a little shabby
I love the open design anniversary band.
My ten year anniversary is this summer, so I would have to say the anniversary band (I’ll have to hint to my husband).
Gorgeous stuff! I loved the open design anniversary band, which I need to point out to my husband!
I love the Heart Pendant! So cute! Happy Blogoversary!! Love your blog- it’s at the top of my “must see” everyday!! Thanks for all of the wonderful recipes!! YUM!
Hard to choose.
my favorite would have to be the 14k heart necklace.
Love the Blue Topaz Ring! Can’t wait to try this cake.
I like the Genuine Onyx and Sterling Silver Earrings! Thanks!
I like the necklace you have posted on your site, but I couldn’t find that one on the jewelery site.
The cake looks delicious too!
Thanks for the great site. From Ashley’s, I think the Donald the Dog Waggles Necklace in Sterling Silver is fun!
Hi Laura! Carrot cake is one of my faves. What a fun Blogoversay week! Over at Ashley’s I love the Donald the Dog Waggles necklace.Happy Blogoversay!!
wow! I just love all of your ideas!! The jewlery is beautiful! I love the denuine onyx and sterling silver pendant- and I LOVE how your blogeversary and my wedding anniversay coincide! (today is my 6 year) and looking at your recipes gives me so many ideas about cooking a special meal- thanks!