Blog-able Feast Thursday: Carrot Cake!

I was so thrilled when Holly asked me to be part of her Blog-able Feast (although I'm quite certain I am the only non-professional-quilter! I'm trying hard not to be intimidated!!) We are starting with desserts, and I'm happy to share one of my favorite Fall recipes. I started making this recipe about 5 years and originally found it on Allrecipes. Get ready, it's going to make your home smell heavenly!
Ingredients:
6 Cups grated carrots
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Raisins
4 Eggs
1 1/2 Cups granulated sugar
1 Cup Vegetable Oil
2 tsp. Vanilla
1 Cup crushed pineapple (well drained)
3 Cups Flour
1 1/2 tsp Baking soda
1 tsp Salt
4 tsp Cinnamon (or apple pie spice)
1-2 Cups chopped walnuts*

Directions:
1) Mix carrots and brown sugar in a medium bowl and let sit 1 hour. Stir in raisins.
2) Pre-heat oven to 350 and grease & flour (2) 10" pans**.
3) In a large bowl, beat eggs until light. Gradually add in the sugar, oil & vanilla. Stir in the pineapple.
4) In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt & cinnamon. Add to wet mixture until absorbed. Stir in the carrot/raisin mixture.
5) Pour into prepared pans & bake for 45-50 minutes or until cake tester indicates done. Cool for 10 minutes & remove from pan. Allow to cool before frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
(2) 8 oz packages of cream cheese
1/2 Cup butter softened
2 Cups confectioners sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions
In a mixer or bowl, cream the cream cheese & butter until smooth. Add the vanilla and gradually add in the confectioners sugar.

*I omit the walnuts inside of the cake and just use them to coat the sides. If you are a nut lover, you can add 1 cup to the cake and have 1 1/2 cups on had for decoration.
**I made this cake using (3) 10" pans so I'd have more layers, if you do this, just reduce the cooking time.

I think that Parsley makes the most adorable little carrot tops, so if your feeling adventurous, pipe on some carrots and throw on some parsley!

So aside from sharing a recipe, I am supposed to share something that I'm working on. Unfortunately, all I've been working on are these Halloween Banners (which my blog readers recently read about).
So to spice things up a little, I've decided to give one away (and did you notice, the banner features one of Holly's  Fabrics?? : ) Just leave me a comment and tell me, what's your favorite thing about Fall? Mine? Hmm, the smell of onions & garlic saute-ing on the stove, crisp cool nights, The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown, Apple Picking, Soups & Candy Corn. I'll pick a winner when I am back home from the wedding on Monday.

Have at it!

xoxo

Comments

[Tawni]

Hmmm...what do I like about fall? I love the colors of the trees as they change. I love the cool, crispness in the air. I love that we have to wear sweatshirts at night. I love that it is time to drink hot tea and cocoa at night. Thats why I love fall!

[Olivia]

I love fall- pulling out my sweaters, picking Halloween costumes, leaves crunching under my cute new fall shoes... wait that's too many! I guess I just adore fall!

[Lesley]

I love this cake. I can almost smell the spices... YUM!!! I love this time of year when the leaves start to change and the first time you need a sweater. It's just a cozy feeling. And Starbuck's spiced pumpkin latte isn't so bad either. =^..^=

[Jill]

I love fall because of Halloween! I love to dress up and I will do it anytime of year but Halloween allows me to do it with everyone else! I love the trick-or-treaters and see all the fun costumes that look just too cute on little kids. Only a little kid could pull off a little chick outfit...it wouldn't look as adorable on an adult! And the candy, I mean I love how the candy aisle at the store expands to twice its size to hold all that delicious goodness!

[Jacy]

Such a cute banner. You are a woman of so many talents!! And I was just thinking I needed a good carrot cake recipe, so this comes just in time.
My favorite thing about fall is the return of the "rainy" season. Since we don't get much rain here in So. Cal, I can actually appreciate the little bit that comes during fall. A few good rainy days spent in my PJs with hot chocolate and tomato soup are quite nice after the blazing hot days of summer.

[Kristin B Hodson]

I love the crisp cool air mingled with the last goodbyes of the summer warmth. I love the new smells that come with the falling leaves and rain on the pavement. I love the toughts of visiting pumpkin patches just to hangout amongst the orange and all of the possibilities of the not-yet-created, baked or carved. I love everything about the fall season and I LOVE your banner.

[Kristin B Hodson]

I love the crisp cool air mingled with the last goodbyes of the summer warmth. I love the new smells that come with the falling leaves and rain on the pavement. I love the toughts of visiting pumpkin patches just to hangout amongst the orange and all of the possibilities of the not-yet-created, baked or carved. I love everything about the fall season and I LOVE your banner.

[michal]

my favorite things about fall:
1. baking, baking, baking
2. visiting Apple Hill, where we feast on apples, pick out pumpkins, and wander apple orchards, sipping cider.
3. our annual halloween open house. we host about 75 people throughout the course of the night with hot dogs, chili, homemade rootbeer, and lots of goodies. my boys turn their bedroom into a spook alley. your halloween banner would look great in my entryway!
4. dressing in layers.
are you guys going to come visit during fall? you simply must!

[Rosemary P.]

Oh, pick me...please

[lori]

That carrot cake looks fantastic!!
I love taking my kids to the Pumpkin Patch. Also love all sorts of fall cooking. What's not to like about the fall?

[Steph]

We have a great place here, right up the hill called Apple Hill. Apple orchards, berries, crafts, baked goods, fresh apple cider, pony rides, caramel ..... Everything Fall. That is my favorite thing about this time of year. We also have a huge Halloween party and I love planning and decorating for that!

[Rennagayle]

That is the most adorable carrot cake I've ever seen! I recently took a carrot sheetcake to a church potluck. How I wish I'd seen yours first and gotten the idea to decorate it so creatively. Mine was a hit, but it would've been an over-the-top hit if it had looked THAT cute!

[Julie]

love the brisk weather, a nice walk through a crunchy leaf filled street, cuddling on the couch, fresh baked bread, and of course being invited over to the Moore's for Sunday dinner. Could we possibly be neighbor's again, at least just during soup season?

[Jessica Forbeck]

My favorite things about Fall are going to the pumpkin patch, making tang tea, opeining the windows, planting mums, and raking leaves with the kids, So much fun!!

[Kim Hacking]

That is a gorgeous cake! My boys love carrot cake. I'm definitely going to try that recipe soon. I love everything about fall. The crisp weather, the leaves changing, the apples, pumpkins, holiday feeling. Love it!

[Charlene wirebaugh]

I love everything about fall, you can feel the shift in the air when things start to slow down a little. The leaves changing colors, being able to make comfort food and enjoy it because its not hot out!

[Sarah Jones]

My favorite thing about fall is the color ORANGE. Orange is bright and cozy and delicious and smells wonderful -- all at the same time. It makes me want to sharpen my pencils, bake an apple pie, and read a Victorian novel by a roaring fire. Too bad it's still in the 90's here in Houston!!

[Whitney]

Was this the cake I got to eat. I think it was, it was even prettier in person, and tasted divine. I ate the hole piece you sent home with me, the next day while watching a Tim Gun, makeover a woman who had lost over 200 pounds, and I didn't even feel bad because it tasted so good. I even licked my fingers.

[tanya]

Mmm, gonna have to try that recipe with all my garden carrots. Thanks! I love pulling out all my soup recipes again for those cool fall evenings and seeing the leaves on my maple trees turn colors and fall.

[Jen Gough]

I love going to the apple orchard and picking apples on a nice crisp day with my kiddos. Eating sweet crisp apple...yum!

[Sherri]

I miss fall!! I live in SoCal, where we do HAVE a fall, but not like home (Kentucky!). Sweaters, kids' bright pink cheeks from running in the brisk air, hot cider, crunching leaves, the smell of fireplaces on a chilly morning, Halloween, pie and coffee on a rainy afternoon . . . the list is endless.

[Carrie]

Ohh Fall. Changing leaves, though I don't get enough in California(Grew up in No. Virginia). Apple Hill, Cider, Pumpkin bread or bars, crisp air, high school bands at football games, making Halloween costumes!

[Barbara]

Favourite things about Autumn. Back to school photos of the children all smart again in uniform. The sun shining through red and yellow leaves then the carpet of leaves to crunch through on the way home from school - of course. Pumpkins - we're growing our own this year, so exciting. Lighting a real fire and having candles on the mantle again. My birthday - even though I'm not so young any more it still feels like the start of a new year. PS Love that cake!

[Cheryl]

Thanks for the great recipe!! I love when the trees in the yard change colors. Looking
out my sewing room windows, and seeing the colors is just so inspiring -- and of course
the cooler weather!

[Kristen]

What's not to love about fall? It's probably my favorite time of year. I love going to the pumpkin patch, though. Always super fun. Can't wait to try this carrot cake!