Mar 5
2009

Double Decker Carrot Spice Cake—“It’s a mountain.”

in Dessert, Fruits & Vegetables, Fuji Favorites, Recipes by Type

Mr. Fuji’s birthday was yesterday. A couple of days ago when I asked him what kind of birthday cake he wanted, he responded with two words: “carrot cake.” I was thrilled. I try not to make cakes and pies unless I have a party, holiday, or some other sort of occasion to take it to, because I’m just too tempted to pull out a fork during the day and have “just one more bite.” I have been craving carrot cake. Thus Mr. Fuji’s request made it so I had a valid excuse to make a cake and eat it too.
When I told my mom earlier in the week what kind of cake I was making she told me that my dad had almost bought a carrot cake because he was craving it, but that my mom had talked him out of it. Today I had to drive out for a doctors appointment, putting me only 2 freeway exits away from my dad’s office. After my appointment I dropped by and left a Tupperware container with 2 moist slices of carrot cake in it for him. It’s so nice when one birthday request can satisfy so many coinciding cravings!
This recipe came about while I was in my second year of law school. Mr. Fuji requested carrot cake for his birthday that year and I spent some time zoning out during a particularly boring secured transactions class dreaming up this requested birthday cake. When I made the cake a few days later it luckily turned out just as I had seen it in my head: 2 layers, the cake a cross between a carrot cake and a spice cake, and a nice gooey coat of cream cheese frosting to adorn it.
Yesterday’s cake was no exception, turning out beautifully with a nice moist crumb. When I finished frosting it and it was sitting on the counter ready to be eaten, Squirrel saw it and said, “Oh, a cake! For Dada’s birfday?” When I nodded “yes” in response, she then matter-of-factly told me, “It’s a mountain.” I had to laugh, because indeed, from her vantage point, the cake was a towering mass of white frosting stretching up into the sky like a snow covered peak. So there you go, make yourself a mountain. I give you permission. I mean hey, it’s full of shredded carrots, which are good for you. So it stands to reason that you’re being healthy by eating a nice big piece, right? Right????


Print This Recipe Print This Recipe
FM’s Double Decker Carrot Spice Cake
Cake:
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour two 9-inch cake pans (or one 9×13-inch pan, if you want to make a sheet cake).

2. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, applesauce, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla.

3. Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

4. Stir in carrots. Fold in pecans. Pour into prepared pans.

5. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.

Frosting:
1/2 cup butter, softened
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
3 1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioner’s sugar, and vanilla.

2. Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Frost the cooled cake.

{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }

edward and lilly March 5, 2009 at 8:14 pm

YUM! This looks amazing!

Reply

LollyChops March 5, 2009 at 8:29 pm

I would like to request that you go ahead and have a 3rd piece on my behalf (this is in addition to the two pieces I asked you to have for me yesterday). Deal?

Reply

K and S March 5, 2009 at 9:14 pm

looks so good! happy belated birthday mr fuji!

Reply

Nila Rosa March 5, 2009 at 9:23 pm

mmm I love carrot cake. I always have carrot cake on my bday.

Reply

The Food Librarian March 5, 2009 at 10:34 pm

Happy Birthday to Mr. Fuji! What a great cake!

Reply

Abigail (aka Mamatouille) March 5, 2009 at 11:23 pm

I HEART carrot cake! Yum!

Reply

Bob March 6, 2009 at 12:18 am

Hmm. That’s kind of odd. My girlfriend’s birthday is coming up and what does she want? Carrot cake. Serendipity much? :)

Reply

mamakd March 6, 2009 at 1:30 am

That is definitely one mountain I would climb! Yum…I think I may create a holiday so I can make that soon, maybe celebrate Daylight Savings Day and spring coming soon!

Reply

HanamiGallery March 6, 2009 at 7:30 am

mmmmmm looks delicious! i love cream cheese frosting. heh. you always have the best recipes!

Reply

Natalie R. March 6, 2009 at 7:46 am

Happy Birthday, Mr. Fuji!

I wish I lived near enough to try your cooking/baking once in a while – it always looks heavenly!

Reply

Zoe Francois March 6, 2009 at 8:13 am

Fantastic! My favorite for birthdays too!!!

Reply

Jen Sue Wild March 6, 2009 at 8:49 am

This cake looks amazeing!!!
But not as amazeing as the Pic of your bubby and baby it’s meltyour heart sweet!

Reply

mushroommeadows March 6, 2009 at 12:39 pm

Yummy! It IS wonderful that you satisfied so many cravings, but now you’ve got me craving it! So thank goodness you provided the recipe!!! :)

Reply

diva March 6, 2009 at 2:07 pm

happy birthday mr. fuji!! ooh this cake looks amazing. i can see how moist it is…yummy! x

Reply

Ingrid March 6, 2009 at 2:42 pm

I love children that age, the things they say, and how they say it, always so fresh and funny.

Happy birthday, Mr. Fuji!
~ingrid

Reply

Not Another Omnivore March 6, 2009 at 9:20 pm

I cannot tell you how long I’ve been craving carrot cake!

NAOmni

Reply

Sophie March 8, 2009 at 3:53 am

Wow, this looks amazing!! My husband too is a great fan of carrot cake!! MMMMM….

Reply

gleek March 8, 2009 at 10:06 am

mmm, i love carrot cake! especially carrot cake that DOES NOT have raisins in it :)

Reply

Melanie Gray Augustin March 11, 2009 at 6:43 pm

Belated Happy Birthday to Mr Fuji! That cake looks delish!

Reply

Anonymous September 9, 2009 at 7:33 pm

Carrot cake is a man's cake. My husband loves it. I soaked some raisins , drained off the juice and added 1/2 cup to your recipe. It was mouth-watering. thank you . Children are beautiful.

Reply

Fuji Mama September 10, 2009 at 6:24 am

Thanks Anonymous! I'm so glad that you liked the recipe, and thank you so much for letting me know that you tried it out!

Reply

katharine` March 22, 2011 at 4:42 pm

My father-in-law’s birthday is tomorrow and he requested a carrot cake so I plan to make this is a little while. Looks delicious – thanks!

Reply

Leave a Comment

{ 1 trackback }

Previous post:

Next post: