crushed pineapple | thebrookcook

This is the best carrot cake I’ve ever had in my life. My entire family felt the same way. I’ll never be able to try another version.

When my friend gave me this special cookbook, she mentioned that the carrot cake recipe was wonderful and that it incorporated crushed pineapple. I can’t believe I waited so long to make it! The author notes that this is their most popular cake- and that its sales in the bakery double every year. It really was unbelievably delicious.

This recipe was adapted from Kathleen’s Bake Shop Cookbook: The Best Recipes from Southampton’s Favorite Bakery for Homestyle Cookies, Cakes, Pies, Muffins, and Breads by Kathleen King, founder of Tate’s Bake Shop. I roasted the walnuts, reduced the baking time, and lined the cake pans with parchment paper.

Yield: One 9-inch, 2-layer cake

For the Cake:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp coarse salt
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil (I used canola oil)
4 large eggs
2 cups grated carrots (from 5 to 6 carrots)
1/2 cup chopped raw walnuts
1 cup crushed and drained pineapple

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
Roast the walnuts until lightly browned and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees, preferably on convection.
Grease two 9-inch round cake pans. Line with parchment paper, grease paper and dust pans with flour.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
In another large bowl, mix sugar and oil.
Beat in eggs with an electric mixer. (I used a hand held mixer.)
Stir in carrots, roasted nuts, and pineapple.
Stir in the flour mixture.
Pour into prepared pans. (I use a scale to ensure that the pans hold an equal amount of batter.)
Bake for 35 minutes on convection, or up to 45 minutes in a standard oven, or until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove pans to a wire rack and let cool for 15 minutes before removing from the pans.
Let the cakes cool completely before icing.

For the Cream-Cheese Icing and To Finish the Cake:

1 pound cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter (1 stick), softened
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream together the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Add vanilla and mix.
Beat in the sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.
Spread the icing between the 9-inch layers and over the top and sides of the cake.
Chill before serving. (I made the cake a day in advance.)

Note: This cake is very moist and keeps for at least a week in the refrigerator; it also freezes perfectly unfrosted.