Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

4 eggs
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped pecans

1/2 cup butter, softened
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans


Directions:

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.

2.In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pan.

3.Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

4.To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Stir in chopped pecans. Frost the cooled cake.

Maple Cake with Maple Syrup Frosting

This delicious dessert gets a double dose of maple flavor: one in the cake, another in the cream cheese-maple frosting. Keep in mind that maple syrup affects the baking time of this cake (it takes almost an hour to bake).

10 servings

by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito


Ingredients:

Cake
3 cups all purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tablespoons non-hydrogenated solid vegetable shortening, room temperature
2 cups pure maple syrup (preferably Grade B)
3 large egg yolks
1 large egg
1 1/4 cups whole milk
1 cup walnuts, toasted, coarsely chopped

Frosting:
3 cups powdered sugar
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup (preferably Grade B)
Toasted walnut halves (for garnish)

Needed:
Two 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides


Directions:

Cake

Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 325°F. Butter two 8-inch-diameter cake pans with 2-inch-high sides. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper; butter parchment. Dust pans with flour; tap out excess. Sift 3 cups flour, baking powder, and salt into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat butter and shortening in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add maple syrup and beat until smooth, about 3 minutes. Add egg yolks and egg 1 at a time, beating until well blended after each addition. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions alternately with milk in 2 additions. Fold in walnuts. Divide batter equally between prepared pans (about 3 1/2 cups for each); smooth tops.

Bake cakes until tester inserted into center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Cool cakes in pans on racks 20 minutes. Run small knife around sides of cakes to loosen. Invert cakes onto racks; remove parchment. Cool cakes completely.


Frosting

Sift powdered sugar into medium bowl. Using electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter in large bowl until smooth. Add powdered sugar and maple syrup and beat just until smooth (do not overbeat or frosting may become too soft).

Using serrated knife, trim off domed top of each cake layer, creating flat surface. Place 1 cake layer, trimmed side up, on platter. Spoon 1 cup frosting in dollops over top of cake layer; spread evenly to edges. Top with second cake layer, trimmed side down. Spread remaining frosting evenly over top and sides of cake. Arrange walnut halves around top edge of cake. DO AHEAD Can be made up to 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Cut cake into wedges and serve.


Nutritional Information:

One serving contains the following:

Calories (kcal) 668.3
% Calories from Fat 41.6
Fat (g) 30.9
Saturated Fat (g) 19.6
Cholesterol (mg) 122.7
Carbohydrates (g) 90.1
Dietary Fiber (g) 1.4
Total Sugars (g) 54.1
Net Carbs (g) 88.7
Protein (g) 7.0

Guy Fieri's Golden Pound Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups, plus 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
3 cups sugar
6 eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon grated orange zest
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
3 cups cake flour
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
1 cup Cranberry Citrus Glaze, recipe follows


Directions:

In a stand mixer, fitted with the batter blade, cream the butter and the sugar for 8 minutes on medium speed, scraping down the sides often with a rubber spatula. Lower the speed to medium- low and add the eggs, 1 at a time, combining well after each addition. Add the vanilla and the orange and lemon zest.

Add half of the flour, with the mixer off, then turn the mixer on low speed to combine. Add the buttermilk and cream and when well combined add the remaining flour. Continue to mix for an additional 3 minutes on medium-low speed.

Butter and flour a tube pan. Pour the batter into the pan, tapping the pan on the counter a few times to eliminate air bubbles and put in a cold oven. Set the oven to 325 degrees F and after 45 minutes, carefully rotate the cake and continue to bake another 30 to 40 minutes. Check by inserting a wooden skewer into the center and when it comes out dry, remove the pan from the oven. The cake will fall a bit, but let it rest for 30 minutes. Run a sharp, thin knife around the edges of the pan and let rest for 10 minutes more.

Invert the cake onto a parchment lined cooling rack.

Cook's Note: Put a piece of parchment paper on top of the cake and pan, then flip gently over and allow to cool to room temperature.

Dust with the confectioners' sugar, then slice and serve with Cranberry Citrus Glaze.


Cranberry Citrus Glaze:

2 cups cranberries (fresh or frozen)
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 oranges, zested and juiced
1 lemon, zested and juiced

In a small saucepan, over medium heat, add the cranberries and water. Cook until the cranberries start to pop, about 3 minutes, then add the remaining ingredients and reduce the heat to low. Simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes. Puree with stick blender and strain into a serving bowl. Serve or refrigerate until ready to use.

Cook's Note: This glaze can be made ahead.