While I wait for Cosmo.ph to upload my next few blog entries, here's a sweet break from the series: a double-layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Yum!
I made this the other night and I must say it's delicious—a bit too many raisins for my taste, but overall scrr-umptious. I followed Ina Garten's recipe from FoodNetwork.com which you can find here. You can also turn this into carrot squares or cupcakes, and adjust the baking time accordingly.
In Manila, my friend Sharlene Tan—an entrepreneur, former Summit editor, food writer, fashion stylist, jewelry designer (whew!)—made the best carrot cake squares ever! One day at the office, she just handed me a box of those gorgeous, gorgeous, creamy squares of bliss. Talk about sweet :)
Just a few tips if you're planning to try Ina's (yes, in my mind we're on first-name basis) recipe:1. If you're not that much into raisins and walnuts, add less than what the ingredient list calls for.
2. If you do keep the raisins, you might want to cut back on the sugar, perhaps a fourth to half a cup less. Between the dried fruit and powdered sugar in the cream cheese frosting, it's quite the sugar bomb.
3. Try not to eat the cake right after you bake and frost it. Trust me, it's better the next day after it sets in the refrigerator. And the next (if it's not gone by then!).
That looks yum-o! I love Barefoot Contessa, too. My after-dinner routine is to watch "Everyday Italian" at 8pm then "Barefoot Contessa" at 10pm. Heehee. :)
ReplyDeleteOoh! You'll love living in the States, those two shows come out twice daily (morning and afternoon) on Food Network :) I love Giada's food, too :)
ReplyDeleteHaaaay, I really love your baking posts. There's something so cozy and comforting reading about your cakes and pastries!
ReplyDeleteAwww...thanks, Anna! :) I haven't baked this much ever in my life, even I am surprising myself by how often I've been churning out these sweet treats! I just find it relaxing and yes, comforting (the eating part haha) :)
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh, we're like living in a parallel universe! i just brought home (well, last weekend) a lovely carrot cake--dense, sweet and yummy. bake me a carrot cake, neighbor!!!
ReplyDeleteoh, and you're in my magnificent women series because you are truly magnificent!
I always tell you Neighbor that we live in a parallel universe hehe. Aww... I just read your blog post, wahh! It's so nice! After reading what you wrote I realized how mean I am to myself :p
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, I shall bake you a cake when I get back! I just need an oven...
Love ya!
Hi Mariel!
ReplyDeleteI got the pen! yehey! Thanks so much:) Atlas it's here! Thank you again.
marnellie
Hi, Marnellie!
ReplyDeleteThat's great! Whew, that took a while though, but I'm glad it's there :) You're welcome!
the cake looks delish Mariel! Been starting to bake more these days, mostly to practice for when I will need to bake and serve chocolate cake to a six-year-olds at Renee's bday party. Your frosting looks very nice...is that a particular technique?
ReplyDeleteThanks, Chinachix! :) Ah, those 'peaks' were kind of a last-minute thought and you won't believe how easy it was to create them: Just rest a spoon over the frosting then flick it upwards. Keep doing this until you reach the desired look. That's it!
ReplyDelete