The best, most delicious, moist, flavorful carrot cake ever. Dare I say, World's Best Carrot Cake?
Ingredients
Cake
1 cups sugar
1½ cups vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons grated orange rind
1 cup crushed pineapple with juice (One small, tall can)
½ cup shredded coconut
2 cups carrots (grated)
1½ cups nuts (pecans or walnuts) - Optional
Frosting
8 ounce cream cheese (one package)
½ cup butter (one stick)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
16 ounce powdered sugar (confectioners sugar)
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour the pans (one 9”x13” or two 9” round).
Mix sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla together until blended. In a separate bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and orange rind. Mix flour mixture into wet mixture until blended. Add in the pineapple, coconut, grated carrots, and nuts (if using).
Pour into two 9 inch round pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes (That's Grandma’s directions, I find that I have to bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes; your mileage may vary). You may also use a single 9x13 inch rectangle pan, and bake about 60 minutes. Cakes are done when a toothpick inserted in the middle is not goopy; a moist crumb or two is ok. Try not to overcook.
When done, (if using 9 inch round pans) remove from oven and let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then carefully remove from the pans and cool on a wire rack until completely cool. If using a rectangular pan, it may be cooled completely in the pan, although I think it turns out slightly better if cooled on a rack.
For the frosting, cream together the butter and cream cheese, then add in the vanilla and powdered sugar until blended and no lumps.
Recipe by Average Ninja at https://average.ninja/blog/2015/07/23/grandmas-carrot-cake-3/