The Ultimate VT Carrot Cake

• 2 cups plus 2 Tbs. all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. ground cardamom
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 oz. carrot baby food
• 1 Tbs. finely grated fresh ginger
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 large eggs
• 3 cups coarsely grated carrots (can be shredded in food processor), from about 6 carrots
• 1 20-oz. can crushed pineapple, well drained
• 1 1/2 cups crushed walnuts
• 1 1/4 cup whipping cream
• 8 oz. reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
• 2 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 cup crushed walnuts, optional

1. Preheat oven to 350F.
2. Butter 2 8-inch round cake pans and line bottoms with parchment or wax paper.
3. Butter paper, and dust with flour.
4. To make Carrot Cake: Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom.
5. Beat oil, both sugars, baby food, ginger, and vanilla extract until smooth, about 2 minutes.
6. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each.
7. Add flour mixture in two additions.
8. Add carrots, pineapple, and nuts; beat just until blended.
9. Divide batter between cake pans and bake 50 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into centers comes out clean.
10. Cool cakes in pans on rack 10 minutes.
11. Cut around edges to loosen using small knife.
12. Invert cakes onto rack, remove paper, and cool completely.
13. To make Frosting: Beat cream until soft peaks form; set aside.
14. Combine cream cheese, sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt; beat until smooth and creamy, 3 to 5 minutes.
15. Fold in whipped cream in 3 additions.
16. Refrigerate.
17. To assemble: Up to 4 hours before serving, place one layer on cake platter.
18. Spread 1 cup Frosting over top and cover with second layer.
19. Spread Frosting over top and sides of cake.
20. Sprinkle sides with crushed walnuts, if using.

flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cardamom, vegetable oil, brown sugar, sugar, carrot baby food, ginger, vanilla extract, eggs, carrots, pineapple, walnuts, whipping cream, cream cheese, lemon juice, vanilla extract, salt, walnuts

Taken from www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/the-ultimate-vt-carrot-cake/ (may not work)