Why-I-Joined-Zaar Carrot Cake

On October 2, 2001, I discovered the Recipezaar Web site. I immediately joined so I could post a request for a recipe I had lost. In less than an hour, I had a reply: this recipe. Unfortunately, I never posted it into the database -- until now. My mistake. This cake was the reason I joined, and the friendly response I received was the reason I stayed!

• Ready In: 1 hr 5 mins
• Serves: 12

Ingredients

• CAKE

• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 2  teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 3⁄4 cups white sugar
• 1  cup  vegetable oil
• 3  eggs
• 1  teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2  cups  shredded carrots
• 1  cup flaked coconut
• 1  cup  chopped walnuts
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained

• FROSTING

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1⁄4 cup butter, softened
• 2  cups icing sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.
2. Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon; make a well in the center and add sugar, oil, eggs and vanilla. Mix with wooden spoon until smooth.
3. Stir in carrots, coconut, walnuts and pineapple. Pour into 9x13 inch pan and bake for about 45 minutes. Don't panic, the centre will sink a little.
4. Allow to cool; when cool, ice the cake. You can certainly use your favourite cream cheese frosting to ice this cake, but the one I've included is highly recommended (I usually leave the cake in the 13x9 pan and just ice the top).
5. To make the frosting: Cream the butter and cream cheese until smooth; add the icing sugar and beat until creamy.