Silver Palate Carrot Cake

"This is my hands down all time favorite carrot cake recipe from the Silver Palate cookbook."
 
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photo by anniesnomsblog photo by anniesnomsblog
photo by anniesnomsblog
photo by anniesnomsblog photo by anniesnomsblog
photo by anniesnomsblog photo by anniesnomsblog
Ready In:
1hr 5mins
Ingredients:
18
Serves:
12
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ingredients

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directions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F Grease two 9-inch springform pans.
  • Sift the dry ingredients into a bowl. Add the oil, eggs, and vanilla. Beat well. Fold in the walnuts, coconut, carrots, and pineapple.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Set on the center rack of the oven and bake until the edges have pulled away from the sides and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 minutes.
  • Cool on a cake rack for 3 hours. Fill and frost the cake with the cream cheese frosting.
  • Cream together the cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl.
  • Slowly sift in the confectioners’ sugar and continue beating until fully incorporated. The mixture should be free of lumps.
  • Stir in the vanilla, and lemon juice if desired.

Questions & Replies

  1. Can this recipe be converted to cupcakes and if so what is the approximate baking time?
     
  2. Can the coconut be omitted?
     
  3. What does it mean to “fill” and frost the cake?
     
  4. how many carrots do i have to use to make 1 1/3 cups pureed?
     
  5. I’ve made this cake many times, and it always sinks in the middle. It’s still delicious, and everyone loves it, but it drives me crazy! What might I be doing wrong?
     
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Reviews

  1. This is the best Carrot Cake ever! I have used this recipe for many years in a cafe. * It is very moist * Carrots do not turn green as in many recipes I reduce the sugar by nearly 1 cup, put them into giant muffin tins, and make these into "Morning Muffins" for a cafe. When business is slow, I bake half of the batter the first morning, and then the other half the next day, which spreads out the delightful morning smells. I substitute canned pumpkin for the carrots in the fall! One last tip, since I make them often, I puree a big bag of carrots at a time, then freeze the remainder for my next baking day.
     
  2. Every year at a Christmas fundraiser auction, I offer cakes which I will make upon request; six highest bidders get to call me for a cake. By far, the most requested is carrot cake; this is the recipe I use, from the Silver Palate cookbook. Moist, rich, flavorful, not difficult to make at all. One of my friends gives a testimonial for it worthy of a camp meeting or revival. BE FOREWARNED: My recipe from the cookbook says two 9" pans. Balderdash! I bought 10" pans to accomodate this huge cake. Three 9 inch layers tend to slip and slide around and get very messy. Makes a ton of fabulous cupcakes if you prefer. If you have a large group to feed, make this cake. Bake the layers, wrap well, freeze and then bring them out and frost them. Cake keeps well and improves with age.
     
  3. This Carrot Cake is superior. My family and friends told me it was the best carrot cake they have ever had. I used baby food carrots instead of peeling, cooking, & pureeing and it came out absolutely fabulous. I would recommned making sure you use the 9 inch spring form pans. I used on huge spring form and had to cook the cake for almost 2 hours. It didn't burn, but the edges were a little browner than I would have liked. The frosting - oh my goodness! is the best.
     
  4. I’ve been making this delicious carrot cake for 30 years and it’s the best. The recipe will make 36 cupcakes but the frosting only covers about 30. As a side note, the original recipe calls for 1 1/2 cups corn oil but 1 cup is fine.
     
  5. Very good cake. Moist and not to spicy. Some carrot has all kind of spice in it but not this one. The cinnamon amount was perfect. I did not puree the carrot. I just used a very fine grater and grated the carrots. It came out just fine. Oh, and the frosting is to die for. I licked the bowl he he he. Thanks for posting the recipe.
     
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Tweaks

  1. I have made this cake 4 times, and each time it turns out great. I used (2) 9 1/2" non stick (dark) spring form pans, sprayed with baking spray and usually do not have a problem with sticking or sinking....that being said if you choose to use non stick (dark) pans, reduce your heat by 25 degrees (350 becomes 325), and PREHEAT YOUR OVEN and use the middle rack, and check you cakes 4-5 minutes before the full cooking time or the cakes may become crispy on the edges, like mine turned out because I didn't reduce the heat to account for the dark pans.
     
  2. This is the best Carrot Cake ever! I have used this recipe for many years in a cafe. * It is very moist * Carrots do not turn green as in many recipes I reduce the sugar by nearly 1 cup, put them into giant muffin tins, and make these into "Morning Muffins" for a cafe. When business is slow, I bake half of the batter the first morning, and then the other half the next day, which spreads out the delightful morning smells. I substitute canned pumpkin for the carrots in the fall! One last tip, since I make them often, I puree a big bag of carrots at a time, then freeze the remainder for my next baking day.
     
  3. This Carrot Cake is superior. My family and friends told me it was the best carrot cake they have ever had. I used baby food carrots instead of peeling, cooking, & pureeing and it came out absolutely fabulous. I would recommned making sure you use the 9 inch spring form pans. I used on huge spring form and had to cook the cake for almost 2 hours. It didn't burn, but the edges were a little browner than I would have liked. The frosting - oh my goodness! is the best.
     
  4. For a healthier option I skipped the corn oil and used about half coconut oil and half walnut oil, to stay consistent with the flavors already present in the cake, and it turned out great.
     

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

SoCal transplant who pulled up her roots and moved alllllllllll the way to TN!
 
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