Nostalgia Farms’ Carrot Cake

 

“Easter is just around the corner, so  I thought I would share my recipe for carrot cake. This recipe makes three cake layers and begs for a cream cheese frosting, full of spices and fresh carrots. It’s my most requested cake for family functions and the base of my carrot whoopee pie we sell at the Freight House Farmers Market in downtown Davenport.” – Joe Dennis, Nostalgia Farms

Nostalgia Farms’ Carrot Cake

Dry Ingredients:
3 cups flour
2 ½ cups sugar
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp clove
1 tsp fresh grated nutmeg
1 tsp ginger

Wet ingredients:
3 cups grated carrot
Zest and juice of one lemon
1 20 ounce can of crushed pineapple drained
1 tsp vanilla
1 ½ cup liquid vegetable oil
6 eggs (1 ½ cups)
2 cups chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Grease and flour three 9 inch cake pans or four 8 inch cake pans

3. In large bowl, combine dry ingredients wisk to combine

4. In separate bowl, combine beaten eggs and rest of wet ingredients. Stir wet ingredients into dry until thoroughly combined. Do not over mix. Fold in walnuts.

5. Divide batter evenly in baking pans and bake at 350 for 25-35 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and cake starts to pull away from sides.

6. Cool in pans 5-10 minutes, turn cake onto wire racks to cool completely.

7. Stacking cakes as you go, frost with cream cheese frosting and refrigerate until serving. I like to frost lightly up the sides and use an additional cup of crushed walnuts along the sides only.

 

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:
(2) 8 oz package room temperature cream cheese
2 sticks softened butter
4 cups powdered sugar
2 tsp vanilla

Directions:
1. In large mixer combine cream cheese, butter and vanilla and beat until light and fluffy.

2. Add powdered sugar and beat on medium speed until light and of spreading consistency.

 

Joe Dennis is a farmer at Nostalgia Farms in Walcott, Iowa. Together with his partner, Ed Kraklio, they sell locally-grown, organic produce at the Freight House Farmer’s Market in downtown Davenport, IA near LeClaire Park, every Tuesday (3-6 pm) and Saturday (8 am -1 pm). You can visit the farm’s website at: www.nostalgiafarms.com. Read more of Farmer Joe’s blog posts on MVHNews, or try any of the Nostalgia Farms recipes on this website.