This ginger and walnut carrot cake is a wonderful alternative to the sometimes overly sweet classic. The ginger and walnuts give it a lovely hearty flavour. If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing non-chocolate pudding then this is perfect! Best part is- it’s easy to make and tastes amazing. Keep reading for an easy carrot cake recipe.
What You’ll Need
For the cake:
- 200 grams plain flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 175 grams soft light brown sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 200 ml vegetable oil
- 200 grams grated carrot
- 100 grams roughly chopped walnuts
- 75 grams crystallised ginger
For the icing:
- 150 grams unsalted butter
- 150 grams icing sugar
- 150 grams full-fat cream cheese
Optional decorations:
- 25 grams roughly chopped walnuts
- 25 grams roughly chopped crystallised ginger
- Carrot sugar decorations
Step One: Preheat the Oven
Before you get started, preheat your oven to 170 degrees (or 150 fan).
Step Two: Prepare Your Tins
Grease the sides of two 20cm round cake tins using butter and line the base with baking parchment.
Step Three: Mix Dry Ingredients
Mix the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, ground ginger and salt in a bowl.
Step Four: Mix Wet Ingredients
Mix the oil, eggs and sugar together in a large bowl.
Step Five: Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients Together
Slowly mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. This will form a stiff mixture.
Step Six: Add Carrots
Add the grated carrots into the mixture. This will add moisture and soften the mixture.
Step Seven: Bake
Empty the mixture into your baking tin(s) and place into middle of the preheated oven.
Leave for 40 minutes, or until it is starting to come away from the edges of the cake tin and few crumbs are stuck to a cake tester.
Step Eight: Prepare Icing
Whilst the cake is baking, create your icing. Beat the butter and icing sugar together in a bowl.
Add the cream cheese to the mixture and combine. Avoid over-beating as the mixture can become too runny. If this happens cool the mixture in the fridge.
Step Nine: Cool and Decorate
Ensure the cake is completely cool before decorating with the icing. Add chopped crystallised ginger, walnuts and sugar carrots.
FINAL THOUGHTS..
Yum- I am so excited to tuck into a slice of this! The natural sweetness of the carrots, the crunch of the walnuts and the subtle warmth from the ginger come together to create a perfect balance that will leave everyone wanting more. It’s the perfect after-dinner treat or birthday cake. I’m using it as a Christmas cake alternative- as I don’t like the traditional Christmas pudding. I hope you’ve enjoyed this carrot cake recipe, let me know how you get on! If you’re wanting more sweet treat ideas, why not check out my brownie recipe- they’re epic!
