Double layer carrot and pecan cake with nutmeg icing
<p>This impressive carrot cake is loaded with sultanas and crunchy pecans, and laced with warming spices. The nutmeg cream cheese icing, which is generously slathered between the layers as well as on top, is sweet and comforting.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves:</span></strong> 12</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients:</span></strong></p>
<p><em>For the cake</em></p>
<ul>
<li>3 organic eggs</li>
<li>175ml rice bran oil (or light olive oil)</li>
<li>1/4 cup full-fat unsweetened Greek yoghurt</li>
<li>1 teaspoon vanilla extract</li>
<li>Zest of 1 orange</li>
<li>200g plain flour</li>
<li>50g ground almonds</li>
<li>200g soft brown sugar</li>
<li>50g desiccated coconut</li>
<li>1 teaspoon nutmeg</li>
<li>1 teaspoon cinnamon</li>
<li>1 teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li>1 teaspoon baking powder 300g grated carrots</li>
<li>100g chopped roasted pecans</li>
<li>80g sultanas</li>
</ul>
<p><em>For the icing</em></p>
<ul>
<li>150g butter, softened</li>
<li>1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract</li>
<li>2 cups icing sugar</li>
<li>125g cream cheese</li>
<li>2 teaspoon nutmeg powder</li>
</ul>
<p><em>For decoration</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Handful roasted pecans, chopped</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Method:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Preheat oven to 180°C fan bake. Line 2 x 22cm tins with baking paper.</li>
<li>In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat eggs, oil, yoghurt, vanilla and orange zest until smooth. Gradually add flour, ground almonds, sugar, coconut, spices and raising agents. Stop your mixer once just combined – do not over mix.</li>
<li>Fold through grated carrots, pecans and sultanas.</li>
<li>Divide batter evenly between the 2 cake tins.</li>
<li>Bake for about 40 minutes. The cakes are ready when golden in colour, springy to the touch and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.</li>
<li>Allow cakes to cool for around 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack.</li>
<li>Meanwhile, make the icing. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat butter and vanilla until smooth and then gradually add icing sugar. Add cream cheese a little at a time and continue to beat until light and fluffy. Finally, fold through nutmeg.</li>
<li>Once cakes are cool, spread a layer of icing onto one cake and place the other directly on top. Apply a neat coating of icing to the top of the cake and decorate with chopped roasted pecans. Serve at room temperature.</li>
<li>Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.</li>
</ol>
<p>What’s your favourite cake to bake?</p>
<p><em>Written by Jordan Rondel. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. Image credit: Emma Boyd / Stuff.co.nz</em>.</p>
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