Healthier Zaar Carrot Cake Recipes

HEALTHY CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray a 10-inch springform pan with nonstick spray.
• In a medium bowl, stir together the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Set aside.
• In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a large mixing bowl, beat together the egg, egg whites, brown sugar, canola oil, and vanilla extract on medium speed until well combined. Add the grated carrots and beat for 1 minute. Add the pineapple and shredded coconut and beat just until incorporated.
• With a wooden spoon, stir in half of the flour mixture, just until the flour almost disappears. Stir in the buttermilk. Add the remaining flour mixture, continuing to stir in by hand, just until combined. Gently fold in the walnuts and raisins.
• Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. (Check at the 30-minute mark-if the edges of the cake are browning too quickly, tent with foil, then return to the oven to finish baking.) Remove the cake from the oven and let cool completely in the pan. Run a dull knife, such as a butter knife, along the edge of the cake to loosen, then unmold it. Carefully transfer the cake to a serving plate.
• Meanwhile, prepare the frosting: In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, Greek yogurt, butter, vanilla extract, almond extract (if using), and salt at medium speed for 2 minutes, until fluffy and well combined. Reduce the mixer speed to low and gradually add the powdered sugar, increasing the speed to medium as you go. Beat for 1 to 2 minutes until well combined.
• Spread the frosting evenly over top of the cooled cake. Sprinkle with toasted nuts and serve.

THE CARROT CAKE RECIPE

Steps:

• Preheat the Oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour 2 round cake pans.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cups flour, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 1/2 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
• In a large bowl beat eggs on high speed until foamy (1 min), Add 1 cup honey and beat on high another 4 min. Blend in 1/2 cup canola oil, 2 tsp vanilla and applesauce.
• Add in the flour mixture 1/2 cup at a time and mix until it is just incorporated into the batter.
• Use a spatula to fold in the grated carrots and walnuts (if using) just until combined.
• Divide the batter equally among the two cake pans and bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes; a toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean (mine was closer to 30 min).
• Tip: While cakes are in the oven make your frosting and refrigerate frosting until ready to use.
• Remove cakes form the oven and once they are cool enough to handle, remove from cake molds and let them cool completely to room temp before assembling and frosting your cake. Note: if the cakes are still warm, your frosting will melt.
• In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix the 2 sticks of butter with 2 cups powdered sugar on low speed or until combined (1 min) Don't start on high speed or you will be surrounded in a cloud of powdered sugar. Increase speed to high and beat until the mixture is pale and fluffy (2 min).
• Add cream cheese 1-piece at a time and mix until combined. (I waited maybe 3 seconds in between each piece; it's one after another really. Once all of the cream cheese is incorporated. continue to beat 1 more minute.
• Add 1 Tbsp vanilla and mix until combined (1 min). Refrigerate frosting until ready to use.
• Place your first (fully cooled) cake layer down on a cake platter. Cover the top generously with frosting.Top with the second cake layer and frost the top and sides until smooth.
• I pulled the frosting up all around the cake (If you don't have an icing knife, you can use a spoon) to make the "column" effect on the sides. I then used my WILTON 1M large frosting tip and a pastry bag to pipe the pattern all around the top rim of the cake.
• Top the cake (staying inside the border) with toasted coarsely chopped walnuts and drizzle generously with honey. This cake is best eaten the same day, but refrigerate the cake if not serving right away and let it sit at least 1 hour at room temp before serving to give the frosting and cake a chance to soften up.

WILLIAMS SONOMA CARROT CAKE (HEALTHIER VERSION)

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 350°F Butter and flour a 9-by-13-by-2-inch baking pan.
• To make the cake, peel and grate the carrots. You should have about 3 cups. Set aside.
• Over a sheet of parchment paper or a plate, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and mace. Set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the agave, eggs, oil, applesauce and orange zest and whisk thoroughly to combine. Stir in the carrots. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour mixture until almost completely incorporated. Add the raisins and nuts and fold to mix thoroughly. Pour the batter into the prepared pan.
• Bake the cake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Watch the time closely at the end so the cake does not overbake. It might have to bake a little longer if you use a different type of pan so just keep checking it and inserting a toothpick until it comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes. Place a cake rack on top of the pan, invert them together and lift off the pan. Let the cake cool completely. Cover the cake with a slightly damp clean kitchen towel so the outside does not dry out as it cools.
• Transfer the cooled cake to a serving platter. Using an icing spatula, frost the cake with a thick layer of frosting. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Makes one 9-by-13-inch cake.

WHY-I-JOINED-ZAAR CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
• Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; make a well in the center and add sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix with wooden spoon until smooth.
• Stir in carrots, coconut, walnuts and pineapple. Pour into 9x13 inch pan and bake for about 45 minutes. Don't panic, the centre will sink a little.
• Allow to cool; when cool, ice the cake. You can certainly use your favourite cream cheese frosting to ice this cake, but the one I've included is highly recommended (I usually leave the cake in the 13x9 pan and just ice the top).
• To make the frosting: Cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth; add the icing sugar and beat until creamy.

EXCELLENT CARROT CAKE

Steps:

• Combine first 5 ingredients; beat well.
• Mix flour, soda, salt and cinnamon; add to creamed mixture; stir well.
• Add carrots, walnuts, pineapple and coconut; stir well.
• Pour batter into greased and floured 13x9 baking pan.
• Bake at 350° for 55 minutes, or until pick comes out clean.
• Buttermilk Glaze: Combine first 5 ingredients in large saucepan.
• Bring to a boil; cook 4 minutes on medium heat.
• Remove from heat; add vanilla.
• Pour buttermilk glaze over warm cake; let cake cool.
• Cream Cheese Frosting: Mix cream cheese and butter; beat until smooth.
• Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy.
• Stir in vanilla.
• Spread cream cheese frosting on top of cooled cake.

HEALTHIER CARROT CAKE III

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13-inch pan.
• Beat together eggs, oil, white sugar, and 2 teaspoons vanilla extract in a large bowl. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.
• Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 40 to 50 minutes. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
• To make frosting: Combine butter, Neufchatel cheese, confectioner's sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Beat until mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans. Spread frosting over completely cooled cake.