Jun 15th - Catch Up - Jun 13th Cottage Cardamon Carrot Wedding Cake

I'm actually joking.  This wasn't really meant to be a wedding cake but H likes to bake with her kids.  I think it was either H or her 4 year old son J who said it was our wedding cake.  We struggled to decide which sort of cake to bake and when she plonked an enormous bag of Carrots on the table to munch on, I suggested Carrot cake.  I found a recipe but as it turned out we were short a few key ingredients.  We did not use the Cream Cheese for the icing as you have read in the Brunch Post, it was needed for the Smoked Salmon.  We had no spices and no nuts.  Purely a Cottage college try for baking.  We really did no know how it would taste until it was done.  We replaced all the spices with the only one around that I thought might even remotely work.  It was too late to turn back. I had already grated 3 cups of Carrots and little J had already whisked the dry ingredients.  Cardamon was going to have to work.  H sort of jokingly suggested cumin.  I am going to hope and assume she was joking. :^P.

In the end.... even with our impromptu Simple Glaze, it was delicious! H was very cautious about the Cardamom but it still added a nice, yet gentle, aromatic punch.

Cottage Cardamom Carrot Cake

2 c all-purpose Flour
2 t Baking Powder
1-2 t ground Cardamom
1 Baking Soda
3/4 t Salt
3/4 c Sugar
3/4 c packed Brown Sugar
3 eggs
3/4 c Vegetable Oil
1 t Vanilla Extract
3 c grated Carrot

Preheat oven to 350F

Butter and flour 13 x 9-inch light metal cake pan. Darkness or lightness can affect cooking time. Set aside.

In large bowl, whisk together Flour, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Cardamom and Salt.

In separate bowl, beat together Sugars, Eggs, Oil and Vanilla until smooth; pour over flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Stir in carrots, pineapple and pecans. Spread in prepared pan.

Bake in centre of oven for 40-45 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centre comes out clean.
Let cool in pan on rack.

Icing:

1/4 c Boiled Water
1 c Icing Sugar

Whisk constantly and vigorously, while adding Water slowly until smooth. Drizzle over cooled Cottage Cardamom Carrot Cake :^D