The carrot cake craze (like many other foods) came from the hand of American culture a few years ago. Since then, carrot cake is in demand in many restaurants and cafeterias and has become one of the favorite desserts of many Spaniards.
There are many chefs who agree that the key to making this recipe lies in making a good sponge cake , as well as accompanying it with dried fruit -mainly walnuts.
To know these and many other essential keys on how to prepare this delicious cake, we will then provide the main steps to make it easily , quickly and, as always, at home.
- You can also read: How to make pancakes (American, oatmeal and homemade).
Carrot: some properties and benefits
The carrot, as an essential ingredient of this sweet, is known as a food very rich in multiple nutrients such as potassium, iron, magnesium, vitamins A, C, K, B5, B8 and B9. , as well as fiber and beta-carotene.
Among its main properties , it helps reduce blood cholesterol levels, has benefits for our vision and promotes oral health. It is also a type of vegetable that makes it easier for our body to digest the foods we eat much better due to its high fiber content.
Finally, it is important to note that this tuber is a great stimulator of the agents that protect our body.: white blood cells. The carrot in this case provides us with decisive reinforcements to enhance our immune system.
How to prepare carrot cake
Easy and homemade recipe Carrot
cake or carrot cake is a dessert that has been enjoyed since the Middle Ages and that has a very fast cooking time of approximately 30 minutes.
With the recipe that we are going to propose next, we will be able to take full advantage of the leftover pulp from the smoothie or juice of this vegetable, which contains high amounts of beta-carotene – an important precursor of vitamin A.
Next, we will explain in 6 simple steps how to make a delicious and easy Carrot and walnut cake with a rich chocolate coating.
1. Ingredients for 8 people
The necessary ingredients that we are going to use to make our carrot cake are going to be those detailed below:
- 1 kilo of carrots
- 1 glass of sugar
- ¾ cup of sunflower oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 glass of flour
- 1 sachet of baking powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- 100 grams of walnuts
On the other hand, we will also need other ingredients to be able to decorate the cake once it is ready. They are the following:
- 1 bar of dark chocolate
- 1 glass of milk
- 1 vanilla pod
- 1 handful of walnuts to place on top
2. Blend the carrots
The first step is very simple. We simply have to wash, peel and cut the carrots into small pieces to fit in the mixer or blender. Then we grind them until they are juiced. We save the remaining pulp to add it later to the cake and if we want, we can drink the juice to prevent it from oxidizing.
3. Preheat the oven and make the dough
Before starting to make the dough, turn on the oven and preheat it to medium temperature, approximately 180º.
Next, mix the sugar, sunflower oil and eggs in a deep bowl . Beat until the mixture takes on a whitish color and has a foamy texture.
Then, we add the crushed carrot pulp and we are stirring with enveloping movements, so as not to lose the sponginess. Next, add the flour, yeast, salt, cinnamon and chopped walnuts and mix again until a smooth paste is obtained.
4. We make the sponge cake
In order to prepare our spongy carrot cake, first we have to take a not very deep mold and spread it with oil. We pour the cake batter carefully.
Once this step is done, we bake the cake at 180º for about 30-40 minutes . To check that it is done and fluffy, we prick it with a toothpick and if it comes out clean it means that it is ready.
Finally, we take the carrot cake out of the oven and let it cool before unmolding it later.
5. We prepare the chocolate
For sweet lovers, we can accompany our carrot cake with a coating made of vanilla and chocolate that will also give it a very original decorative touch.
First, we chop the chocolate bar . Then we put the milk in a saucepan, open the vanilla pod, scrape its interior with a knife and add it to the pot. Gradually add the chopped chocolate.
Let the mixture simmer and gostirring slowly with a wooden spoon until everything is smooth and thick. We can add more milk if we see that the chocolate has a very strong flavor.
6. We decorate our cake
When we have finished preparing the chocolate, we slowly pour it over the cake and spread it out with a utensil so that all (or just the surface) are covered.
Finally, we delicately place a few nuts on top and let the cake cool so that the chocolate is not hot. We can also serve this carrot cake with a topping of chocolate chips and even grated coconut.
- Another easy recipe: How to make crepes at home in 3 easy steps
