Before the internet... there were books. In 1999 I bought this one hot off the press. It's an oh-my-gosh so awesome book of amazingly good ol' Southern foods and comfort foods. This is the book that taught me how to fry chicken. To make a killer broccoli casserole. My first attempt at Blue Cheese Dressing.
I haven't made this particular version in a few years since we rarely eat food items with this much flour in them and we don't use sugar, but it's Autumn - the leaves are changing - there is a chill in the air - and I always start to crave and think about desserts like this one in the Fall. I may actually make this one this week - using my own hand ground flour and of course a natural sweetener in place of the sugar.
Carrot Cake
2 1/4 c self-rising flour
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1 t baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 c canola/vegetable oil (my book calls for 1 1/2 c but I cut down a bit when I'd make it)
4 eggs
3 c grated or shredded carrots
1 c chopped walnuts
Frosting:
16 oz. cream cheese (2 - 8 oz. pkg.)
1 stick butter (real)
4 c powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
1 c crushed walnuts
Preheat oven to 350° -Mix the oil and sugar til smooth. Add the eggs. Beat well. Stir in the flour, baking soda and cinnamon. Add the carrots and walnuts and mix until incorporated into the batter. Pour into 3 greased and floured round cake pans. You can line them with parchment paper if you wish.
Bake 35 to 40 minutes until the centers are done.l Cool in pans for 5 minutes before removing from pans to cool completely. While they are cooling completely make the frosting.
Beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Beat in the powdered sugar about a cup at a time. Add the vanilla and beat well. Spread some frosting between the layers of cake, adding a bit of crushed walnuts to each layer. Finish the top with a layer of frosting and the final sprinkle of walnuts.
