Browned Butter Carrot Cake Recipes

BROWNED BUTTER CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms and sides of 3 (8-inch) round pans with shortening; lightly flour.
• In 2-quart saucepan, heat butter over medium heat 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until light golden brown. Pour into 2-cup glass measuring cup; cool 5 minutes.
• In medium bowl, mix flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. In large bowl, beat browned butter, brown sugar and eggs with electric mixer on medium speed until blended. Add flour mixture; beat on medium-high speed until well blended. Stir in carrots, raisins and walnuts. Spoon and spread batter evenly in pans (about 1 1/2 cups batter each).
• Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling racks. Cool completely, about 1 hour.
• Meanwhile, in large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter with electric mixer on medium-high speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla and 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon. On low speed, beat in powdered sugar, 1 cup at a time, until frosting is smooth and creamy.
• Frost cake, using 3/4 cup between layers, and remaining frosting to cover side and top of cake. Store covered in refrigerator.

CARDAMOM, BROWN BUTTER CARROT CAKE WITH ESPRESSO FROSTING

Steps:

• For the spiced carrot cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-by-9-by-3-inch square baking pan. Line the pan with parchment paper and butter and flour the paper.
• Brown the butter in a small stainless-steel saucepan over medium-high heat. It should melt, foam and then the foam should subside. When you smell a nutty aroma, remove the butter from the heat. Remember that it will continue to brown as it cools.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together the olive oil, vegetable oil, browned butter and vanilla in a medium bowl. Mix the eggs, granulated sugar and brown sugar in an electric mixer until fluffy, about 4 minutes.
• Drizzle the oil mixture into the mixer and whisk until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large mixing bowl and fold the dry ingredients into the mixture with a rubber spatula until combined, then stir in the carrots. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• For the frosting: Dissolve the espresso powder in 2 tablespoons of hot water. Beat the cream cheese and butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the confectioners' sugar, espresso and cardamom and beat until light and fluffy.
• To assemble: Remove the cake from the pan and let cool on a wire rack. Cut into 9 squares, then split each square in half horizontally. Spread some of the icing between two cake layers, then generously spread icing over the top and garnish with the candied walnuts.

BROWN BUTTER CARROT CAKE LOAF

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 1/2-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with the baking spray then line it with parchment.
• Place the butter in a small saucepan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until deep golden, 3 to 5 minutes. Immediately pour it into a heatproof liquid measuring cup. Add the oil to the brown butter; set aside.
• Combine the carrots, coconut and nuts in a small bowl and toss to combine; set aside.
• Whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger and baking soda in a small bowl; set aside.
• Combine the granulated and brown sugars, eggs and vanilla in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Mix on the highest speed for 1 minute. Reduce the speed to medium and slowly pour in the butter and oil. Increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture lightens in color and resembles the consistency of mayonnaise, about 1 minute..
• Add the dry ingredients then mix on low speed just until combined. Scrape the bowl and whisk attachment with a rubber spatula.
• Remove the bowl from the stand mixer and fold in the carrot mixture with a rubber spatula until combined. The batter will be thick. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
• Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with a few moist crumbs, 58 to 62 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan then remove from the pan and serve.