Carrot Cake

A particularly tasty version of the classic cake.

Vegetarian. Hands-on time: 10 mins. Total time: 1 hour.

Contributed by Janey Macleod (March 2003).

This is an excellent recipe that gives consistently good results. It is always deliciously moist, with a rich nutty flavor. I've tried several recipes for carrot cake over the years, but this is easily the best.

This recipe is unusual in that it does not include a frosting or cream-cheese glaze. I think the cake itself is good enough to stand on its own. Also, I hesitate to add a sugary or fat-rich topping to what is otherwise a relatively healthy cake. But feel free to add your favorite frosting or glaze if you wish (such as my ultra-easy cream cheese frosting).

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups (7 oz, 200 g) wholewheat (wholemeal) self-raising flour (or all-purpose flour with 2 tsp. baking powder)
• 3 tsp. mixed sweet spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, etc.)
• 1 tsp. baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
• 1 cup (4 oz. 110 g) soft brown sugar
• 1 cup (2 oz, 50 g) shredded (desiccated) coconut
• 2/3 cup (2 oz, 50 g) broken walnuts
• ½ cup (4 oz, 110 g) butter or margarine
• 1 cup (4 oz, 110 g) sultanas (golden raisins)
• Approx. 2½ cups (6 oz, 175 g) grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots)
• Grated rind of an orange, or 2 tbsp. of orange juice
• 2 beaten eggs

Method

Oven: Pre-heat to 300F (150C)

Mix the first six ingredients. Gently melt the butter or margarine (I usually do this in the microwave, on a low setting), and add the sultanas, carrots and orange. Combine with the dry ingredients, add the beaten eggs and mix thoroughly.

Turn into an oiled loaf tin and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

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Note on quantities and temperatures:
Quantities are given in American (cups), imperial (oz, fl oz) and metric (g, ml) units. Do not mix the units - use one or other system throughout the recipe.
See also How much does a cup weigh?
oz = ounces, fl oz = fluid ounces, g = grams, ml = milliliters, tsp = teaspoons, tbsp = tablespoons.
Oven temperatures are given in degrees F (Fahrenheit) and C (Celsius).
For fan-assisted ovens, reduce the temperature by 20F or 10C.