5 Star Carrot Cake

Travel is always a passion of mine. However, sweets have had my heart since I was a little girl. Growing up with a sweet tooth has fueled one of my favorite hobbies, baking! So I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as my family and I did!

Ingredients:

(for the cake)

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 1 1/4 cups of unsweetened applesauce
• 2 cups of granulated sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon
• 2 cups of grated carrots
• 1 cup of sweetened coconut flakes
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of canned crushed pineapple
• Handful of chopped pecans
• Handful of golden raisins

(for the icing)

• 1/2 stick of softened butter
• 2 bars cream cheese
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Powdered sugar to taste, I used about 1 1/2 cups.

(for the pecan topping)

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 tablespoon of butter melted
• 2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup of granulated sugar

Directions:

• Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
• In a large bowl mix together your applesauce, flour, sugar, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
• Then fold in the carrots, coconut flakes, vanilla, crushed pineapple, pecans, and golden raisins.
• Spray two 9in cake pans with the baking spray that has flour in it and separate the mix into two pans.
• Bake for around 25-30 minutes, mine was done right at 25 minutes.
• Get the cakes out and let them cool for about 30 minutes.
• In a large mixing bowl cream together butter and cream cheese with a hand mixer on medium speed.
• Mix in vanilla extract and powdered sugar.
• Chop pecans and toss them with sugar and cinnamon in the melted butter.
• Spread the pecans on a baking sheet (I covered it with tinfoil) and bake for about 5-7 minutes at 350 degrees.

How to Decorate:

• Ice the cakes with the cream cheese icing.
• Separate one spoon-full of icing into different small bowls, add green food coloring in one, and 2 drops of yellow and red to make orange.
• Pipe a little carrot right in the middle of the top of the cake.
• Surround your carrot with the toasted pecans.
• Enjoy!