Spiced Carrot Layer Cake

Name: Spiced Carrot Layer Cake
Total time: PT0D0H0M
Yield: serves 16-20
Ingredients: 1 cup unsalted butter, plus more for pans; 1 1 ⁄ 4 cups flour, plus more for pans; 1 1 ⁄ 4 cups whole wheat flour; 1 tbsp. baking powder; 1 tbsp. baking soda; 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon; 2 tsp. ground ginger; 1 tsp. kosher salt; 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. ground allspice; 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut; 1 ⁄ 2 cup finely ground almonds; 3 cups finely grated carrots; 1 1 ⁄ 2 cups packed dark brown sugar; 3 eggs, separated; 1 ⁄ 2 cup plain yogurt; 1 ⁄ 4 cup orange juice; 1 tbsp. orange zest; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 12 tbsp. unsalted butter; 1 ⁄ 2 cup sugar; 1 ⁄ 4 cup buttermilk; 1 tbsp. light corn syrup; 3 ⁄ 4 tsp. baking soda; 1 1 ⁄ 2 tsp. vanilla extract; 1 ⁄ 2 cup mascarpone cheese; 3 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese; 2 tbsp. dark or spiced rum; 1 tbsp. orange zest; 1 (1-lb.) box confectioners' sugar; 2 cups finely chopped walnuts

Serves
serves 16-20

TODD COLEMAN

Ingredients

For the Carrot Cake

1 cup unsalted butter, plus more for pans
1 ¹⁄₄ cups flour, plus more for pans
1 ¹⁄₄ cups whole wheat flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. kosher salt
¹⁄₂ tsp. ground allspice
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
¹⁄₂ cup finely ground almonds
3 cups finely grated carrots
1 ¹⁄₂ cups packed dark brown sugar
3 eggs, separated
¹⁄₂ cup plain yogurt
¹⁄₄ cup orange juice
1 tbsp. orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the Buttermilk Glaze and Cream Cheese Icing

12 tbsp. unsalted butter
¹⁄₂ cup sugar
¹⁄₄ cup buttermilk
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
³⁄₄ tsp. baking soda
1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. vanilla extract
¹⁄₂ cup mascarpone cheese
3 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese
2 tbsp. dark or spiced rum
1 tbsp. orange zest
1 (1-lb.) box confectioners' sugar
2 cups finely chopped walnuts

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Orange juice and zest, cinnamon, and ginger add verve and depth to this sumptuous cake.

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Ingredients

For the Carrot Cake

1 cup unsalted butter, plus more for pans
1 ¹⁄₄ cups flour, plus more for pans
1 ¹⁄₄ cups whole wheat flour
1 tbsp. baking powder
1 tbsp. baking soda
1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
2 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. kosher salt
¹⁄₂ tsp. ground allspice
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
¹⁄₂ cup finely ground almonds
3 cups finely grated carrots
1 ¹⁄₂ cups packed dark brown sugar
3 eggs, separated
¹⁄₂ cup plain yogurt
¹⁄₄ cup orange juice
1 tbsp. orange zest
1 tsp. vanilla extract

For the Buttermilk Glaze and Cream Cheese Icing

12 tbsp. unsalted butter
¹⁄₂ cup sugar
¹⁄₄ cup buttermilk
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
³⁄₄ tsp. baking soda
1 ¹⁄₂ tsp. vanilla extract
¹⁄₂ cup mascarpone cheese
3 (8-oz.) packages cream cheese
2 tbsp. dark or spiced rum
1 tbsp. orange zest
1 (1-lb.) box confectioners' sugar
2 cups finely chopped walnuts

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Instructions

Step 1

Make cake: Heat oven to 350°. Butter and flour three 9" round baking pans; set aside. Heat butter in a saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until it browns. Chill until solid.

Step 2

In a bowl, whisk together flours, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, and allspice. Finely grind coconut and almonds in a food processor. Combine nut mixture, carrots, and flour mixture; mix.

Step 3

In a bowl, beat together browned butter and brown sugar until fluffy, 1–2 minutes; beat in yolks one at a time. Add yogurt, juice, zest, and vanilla; beat. Add flour mixture; beat. Whisk egg whites to stiff peaks; fold into batter. Divide batter between pans; smooth tops with a spatula. Bake for 30–35 minutes. Let cool slightly.

Step 4

Meanwhile, make glaze and icing: In a 4-qt. pan, combine 4 tbsp. butter, sugar, buttermilk, syrup, and baking soda; boil. Cook until dark, 3–4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in 1⁄2 tsp. vanilla. Spread glaze over each warm cake. Remove cakes from pans; transfer, glazed side up, to racks. Let cool.

Step 5

In a bowl, beat remaining butter, mascarpone, and cream cheese with a mixer until smooth. Add remaining vanilla, rum, zest, and sugar; beat. Chill. Spread 1 1⁄4 cups icing evenly over 2 cake layers; stack, top with remaining layer. Frost top and sides; press nuts onto sides. Chill before serving.