Chocolate Carrot Cake recipe

Serves: 1 large cake 10 slices

Prep time: 30 minutes

Cook time: 30 minutes

Total time: 60 minutes

Dietary: Contains Egg, walnuts

Meal type: cake

Misc:

Occasion: Afternoon tea

Author: dghchocolatier

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Ingredients

  • 250g Plain Flour sived
  • 65g Cocoa Powder
  • 1tbsp bicarbonate of soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • 175g light brown soft sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 300g carrots, peeled and coarsely grated
  • 150g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids), roughly chopped
  • 125g Unsalted Butter, Plus extra for greasing
  • FOR THE CARROTS
  • 2 large carrots, peeled
  • 200g granulated sugar
  • CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
  • 300g full-fat soft cheese, at room temperature
  • 90g unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 225g icing sugar, sifted

Method

Preheat the oven to 180°C, fan 160°C, gas 4.

Grease and line 20x20cm cake tin with baking paper.

Sift the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda into a bowl and add ½ teaspoon salt.

In a large bowl, cream together the butter and the sugar until fluffy

Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Add two-thirds of the flour mixture to the egg mixture and beat until just combined. Add the grated carrot and chopped dark chocolate to the remaining flour and toss well to make sure they are coated.
Fold the carrot and chocolate mixture into the cake batter using a large metal spoon. Divide the mixture between the prepared cake tins, spreading it out evenly with a spoon.
Bake the cakes in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Leave the cakes to cool in their tins for 5 minutes, then tip them out onto a wire rack and leave to cool completely. Increase the oven temperature to 200°C, fan 180°C, gas 6.
While the cakes are cooling, make the carrot. Line a baking tray with baking paper. Use a flat-bladed peeler to peel long strips from the carrots.

Place the sugar in a medium saucepan with 200ml water and heat gently, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once the sugar has dissolved, add 5-6 carrot strips, increase the heat to high and let them bubble away for 5 minutes.

Remove the carrot strips with tongs and place them in a single layer on the lined baking tray and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Carefully and quickly lift the carrot strips off the tray and twist them around the handle of a wooden spoon. They will harden almost immediately into curls.

Remove the set curls to a plate and repeat the whole process with the remaining carrot until you have enough curls to decorate the top.
Make the cream cheese frosting by combining the ingredients in a bowl and whisking just until smooth.
To assemble the cake, put one of the completely cooled cakes on a serving dish or cake stand and spread the cream cheese frosting on top.

Put the second cake on top and finish the cake with the carrot curls.