“Why is it called Carrot Cake? Are there carrot’s in it?’ That was my daughter’s question, and my reply was a wee bit of a lie. “No I said, it’s just because it’s orange”. Ok, I lied, but I wanted her to taste it. A week later now and she caught me. The fact that she initially thought carrots were not involved didn’t change her distaste of this flavor though. I think our taste’s adapt as we mature… I guess hers aren’t ready to accept vegetables in her cake.

So nothing spectacular here. Just a carrot cake recipe that I tweaked from several others, and a good cream cheese frosting all bundled into a bite size treat.

Carrot Cake (Bite Size)

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp salt
• 1½ tsp cinnamon
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 2 tsp vanilla 
• 3 cups shredded carrots
• 1 cups raisins

Directions:

Pre-heat to 350 degrees. Prepare three 8” pans, or two 9” pans with flour cooking spray. (In this case I used 2 mini muffin pans, 48 total)

Stir together dry ingredients, set aside. Beat the eggs at medium speed until frothy (about one minute). Gradually add sugars and beat until batter is thick – about four minutes. Add oil in a steady stream, add applesauce and vanilla.

Stir in dry mixture, just until incorporated. Then stir in carrots.  Pour batter into pans and bake. Baking time depends on pans used. Approximately 25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes and remove to cool completely. Frost with cream cheese frosting. (adjust cooking time if preparing cupcakes or mini-cupcakes)

Cream Cheese Frosting (I halved this for the mini’s)

• ½ cup unsalted butter (slightly soft)
• 2 (8oz) boxes cream cheese (remove from fridge about 10 mins ahead)
• 2 (boxes)  Powdered Sugar (16 oz each)
• 2 tsp vanilla

Combine butter and cream cheese, beat until fluffy, several minutes. Add sugar in three parts, then vanilla. Beat until smooth. Will more than cover a three layer cake. **Refrigerate leftovers.

Adding nuts is optional, as is pineapple. These were for a friend that doesn’t care for the nuts however.