This carrot cake is famous thanks to a decadent buttermilk glaze and the most divine cream cheese frosting.
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No, really. This buttermilk glazed carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is famous...as it should be. The thing weighs more than my 18-pound dog and you can easily gain 5 pounds just looking at it. No wonder my friend Molly, who's famous for this recipe, told me to make it only if I had plans to share it. And share it I did. Plates left the house left and right because there was no way I could have all those decadent calories in my kitchen without eating every. single. one.
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There are lots of secret to this carrot cake. The first is the perfect carrot cake base sans raisins. You could probably add raisins—and I do love raisins—but it might be too much in a cake that has so many flavors going on.
The second is a buttery, sugary buttermilk glaze you pour over the cake while it's still hot. That glaze is so good I'm pretty sure it should be poured over everything in sight. I kind of wanted to bathe in the stuff.
The third is a cream cheese frosting that is my new favorite cream cheese frosting. It's thick and creamy and the right combination of cream cheese and powdered sugar. Plus you can easily adjust the consistency with a tablespoon or two of milk.
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You may think there's no way a 9x13-inch cake could serve 16 people but I'm telling you all you need is a very small serving of Molly's famous buttermilk glazed carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Anything more and you'll go into a sugar coma from which you may never recover. I almost went into one; it wasn't pretty.
Though carrot cake is super popular around Easter—and you MUST serve this for Easter dessert—I have a feeling friends and family will request this carrot cake year round. You may want double your gym attendance starting today...
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And yes, she's the same Molly who writes the best holiday newsletters, coordinates outfits for family photos like no other, makes the most amazing diaper cakes, and takes on American Idol.
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Printable recipe for buttermilk glazed carrot cake with cream cheese frosting below. Enjoy!
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- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup oil
- 4 eggs
- 1 (15.25-oz) can crushed pineapple
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts
- ½ cup salted butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1½ tsp vanilla
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 T corn syrup
- ½ cup buttermilk
- 1 cup salted butter, softened
- 1 (8-oz) package low-fat cream cheese, softened
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 2 T milk (or enough to desired consistency)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together first six ingredients in a large bowl. Set aside.
- Combine oil and eggs in a large mixing bowl; beat until combined. Add ½ flour mixture and mix.
- Drain some of the juice from the pineapple; add to batter. Mix in remaining flour mixture. Add vanilla, carrots and nuts. Stir until well combined.
- Pour into a 9x13-inch baking dish and bake 35 to 45 minutes or until center is set. Cake will be very dark but should not burn. Remove from oven and prepare glaze.
- Place ingredients in a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved and mixture is lightly simmering. It will foam like caramel popcorn coating.
- Poke holes all over cake with a fork. Pour glaze over cake spreading with a spatula so entire cake is covered. Let cake cool completely before frosting.
- Beat butter, cream cheese and vanilla in medium bowl until creamy. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add milk until desired consistency. Frost cake when cooled.
- Serve cake within 24 hours for best flavor. Store, covered, at room temperature for up to 48 hours.
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If you're looking for more of my yummy cake recipes, browse my best of Is This Really My Life Pinterest board.
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Molly
Thanks for all the attention. I'd like to guarantee that even though you've mentioned me before, this is by far the most valuable contribution I've made. This carrot cake is the deal.