Carrot Spice Cake

This cake is moist and not-too-sweet. It bakes in a 9-inch pan, so it is perfect for smaller group gatherings. The sprinkling of nuts and brown sugar provides a nice accent.

• Ready In: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 2⁄3 cup butter, softened
• 1  cup sugar
• 3  eggs
• 2⁄3 cup milk
• 3  carrots, grated
• 1⁄2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped

• Icing

• 1⁄2 cup butter, softened
• 4  ounces cream cheese, softened
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1⁄2 cups confectioners' sugar

• Topping

• 1⁄4 cup walnuts, finely chopped
• 2  tablespoons light brown sugar, firmly packed

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F Grease and flour 9-inch round pan.
2. Mix together flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt.
3. Beat together butter and sugar at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. At low speed, alternately beat flour mixture and milk into butter mixture. Stir in carrots and nuts. Pour into prepared pan.
4. Bake cake until top springs back when lightly touched, about 40 minutes. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Turn cake out onto rack to cool completely.
5. To prepare icing, beat together butter and cream cheese at medium speed until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Beat in confectioner's sugar until well blended.
6. To prepare topping, mix together nuts and brown sugar.
7. Place cake on serving plate. Spread icing over top and sides. Sprinkle with nut mixture.