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February 7, 2012

Chocolate Carrot Cake {Crazy Cooking Challenge}

Hey yall! 

Photobucket

I didn't participate in January's Crazy Cooking Challenge... chicken noodle soup just isn't my thing. And you know what? This month's pick - chocolate cake - isn't really my thing either. Never been much for chocolate cake. 

Or so I thought.

At first, I wasn't too excited about picking a chocolate cake recipe. Then I came across some with Bailey's and Kahlua and white chocolate and strawberries and butterfingers and all kinds of goodness. And I started to get more excited about this challenge. Then I saw it. Chocolate Carrot Cake. I absolutely love carrot cake, and so does PJ, so it was a no-brainer. Chocolate Carrot Cake was the golden one.






















Oh, and this is my first homemade cake! Woot woot, go me. Not difficult at all when you've got a recipe to follow. Except when you don't follow it correctly. Leave it to me to read a recipe wrong. We only added 2 cups of carrots instead of 3 cups which the recipe called for. While the cake was delicious, it definitely needed the full 3 cups of carrots. It didn't taste carrot-y enough. (Um, what crazy person says that they want more carrots? Me, Me!). This only applies to carrot cake. This is not the norm for me to want more carrots. But for this carrot cake, it is a must.... use the 3 cups! 


And it was still so good. Though it lacked the full on carrot cake flavor, it was a delicious chocolate cake. Especially with the chocolate buttercream frosting filling and topping. I also liked the crunchy walnuts on top; they added a nice texture. Next time I may try toasting them a bit first, or experiment with other crunchy toppings.

Chocolate Carrot Cake
ever-so-slightly adapted from Burn Me Not

Cake:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 and 1/4 cups canola oil
  • 3 cups finely shredded carrots
Frosting:
  • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 3 and 3/4 cups confectioners sugar
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
  • 3 tsp vanilla extract
  • chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray two 8-inch round baking pans with baking spray. 

In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add eggs and oil and beat until combined. Mix in carrots. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. 

For frosting, in a large bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Beat in confectioners sugar, cocoa, and vanilla until smooth.

Level cake layers with a serrated knife. Place one layer on a serving plate; top with half of the frosting. Place remaining cake layer on top of the other frosted layer, and then top with remaining frosting. Sprinkle with nuts.

*Note: I didn't line the baking pans with parchment paper. It just wasn't working right so I just baked the cakes directly in the greased pans. I carefully used a spatula to release the sides and bottom from the pan once cooled and removed to a cooling rack. I'm not sure if baking it in the parchment paper would make a difference, or how to even do it properly. I couldn't figure it out, that's why I baked it directly in the pan. You can line pans in parchment paper like the original recipe says, or bake directly in the pans like I did. Whatevs.

Printable Recipe

























It's after midnight and I'm about to go have a slice, or two. Please tell me this is normal.


Check out the other chocolate cakes in the blog hop below... and maybe click on mine - the one with the most clicks wins the ultimate chocolate cake title.








Linking up here.


Peace, and bacon grease!



35 comments:

Janie said...

Desi, gahhhh! This looks so good! :) I love carrot cake..and it's CHOCOLATE?!

P.S. Found some berry blast Oreos - they are too freakin' good!

Anonymous said...

Mmm, the combination of chocolate and carrot cake sounds divine! I love anything that gives me the excuse to use cream cheese frosting.

Lesa said...

I bake my cakes in the pan, using Pam for Baking. They come out like a dream and I like not having to mess with the parchment paper.

I've never heard of chocolate carrot cake. Wow! Great choice!

laxsupermom said...

This cake sounds delicious! I've always lined my cake pans with parchment. I lay the pans on the parchment, draw around them, cut out the circles, then butter the pans, stick the circles down, and butter the paper. I don't bother to line the sides, except for cheesecake.

Looking forward to trying this chocolate carrot cake. Thanks for sharing.

Noelle said...

OMG!!! You are trying to mess me up!! That cake looks divine!!

Amy Anderson said...

I've never heard of chocolate carrot cake. Genius!

Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust said...

Oh my goodness. I've never heard of chocolate carrot cake. This is awesome!!! It's a must make. I'm pinning it!

Gerry @Foodness Gracious said...

Nice job Desi! You converted yourself into a chocolate freak :)

Teri said...

This looks delicious! I love carrot cake, but I have never had chocolate!! It sounds so good, I can't wait to try it!

marissa | Rae Gun Ramblings said...

oh man now I'm going to be thinking of chocolate cake all afternoon! I would love you to add this and any other posts you want to show off to my What We Wore and Made party over at http://raegunwear.blogspot.com/search/label/WWWMW

Lisa~~ said...

Congrats on your first homemade cake, you did great. I love the idea of chocolate and carrots, I'll have to give this cake a try.

If you haven't already, I'd love for you to check out my Crazy Cooking Challenge entry: Double Chocolate Meyer Lemon Mousse Cake

Lisa~~
Cook Lisa Cook

The Better Baker said...

Looks like your first try at a homemade cake is a real winner! I LOVE the idea of combining the carrot cake (my favorite!) with chocolate. YUUUM!

Kim Bee said...

This looks really good. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

Jenn @ Peas and Crayons said...

Hey Desi! Hope you're having a great week! =)

Here's more info if you ever want to join the party: http://www.peasandcrayons.com/p/wiaw.html -- hope that helps!

Unknown said...

Looks amazing. I love chocolate cake and carrot cake. What a cool combo.

Miz Helen said...

I love the idea of Carrot and Chocolate this is a great combination that I really want to try. Thanks for sharing and hope you have a wonderful week!
Miz Helen
#7

Kristen said...

I didn't know there was such a thing as chocolate carrot cake! What an incredible treat. Yours looks fantastic, especially for your first cake!!!

Helena / Rico sin Azúcar said...

Looks wonderful! good combination (everything with chocolate is better, no doubt!)

Cheers from #chocolatelove bloghop
;-)

CraveCute said...

This looks scrumptious! And all of the links look so good too. I could be here all week....

Chels/Catz in the Kitchen said...

We have the same Cake Plate!! :) I have never heard of a Chocolate Carrot Cake before, I am intrigued!

Dwell on Joy said...

Thanks for your sweet comment and stopping by Dwell on Joy! What a cute site you have - think I'll browse for awhile...

Desi said...

@ Megseverydayindulgence - I'm with you on the cream cheese frosting addiction. Your mint choc cake was a beauty!

@ Noelle - I wouldn't dare try to do that :)

Unknown said...

Your cake caught my attention the other day and I've been meaning to get over here and comment. I LOVE it!

Mallory said...

Thanks for stopping by my chocolate cake with cinnamon cream cheese filling! I've got yours pinned to try sometime! I love carrot cake too and never considered the combination of chocolate with it!

Lyuba @ Will Cook For Smiles said...

Holy YUMM!! Chocolate Carrot Cake..who would have thought! I have got to try it!

The Roasted Root said...

I have never thought of combining chocolate and carrot cake, but now that I have seen it, the combo looks great. If you boil the carrots or soak them ahead of time, the sweet "carrotyness" comes out a bit more :) so that may help with the carrot flavor you were looking for. - Julia @ www.roastedrootfood.com

Heather McMullin said...

Hi Desi!
My Famous Linkz Party is every Wednesday!!

I am heart you blog!
-Heather
@ www.made-famous-by.com

Kim said...

love the carrot chocolate combo! and all of these cakes look mouthwatering! sending some #chocolatelove to you!

Amy said...

Never heard of chocolate carrot cake - so creative!

Miz Helen said...

Hope you have a fabulous week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
Come Back Soon!
Miz Helen

Jennifer said...

What a great idea! My family loves chocolate cake and carrot cake so why not put them together. Love it!

Jen #79

Veronica Miller said...

What a unique chocolate cake! I voted for you by clicking--when will you find out if you won?

Chris said...

Calories consumed after midnight only count half. That's my rule of thumb :)

Unknown said...

Our recipes are so similar! looks like you are a great hostess!

regards,
jennifer of Graphics Matrox

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