Carrot Cake

Famous Carrot Cake

INGREDIENTS
3 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 cups shredded carrots
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
lemon zest

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8x12 inch pan.
2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour mixture and mix well.
4. In a medium bowl, combine shredded carrots, coconut, walnuts, and pineapple.
5. Using a large wooden spoon or a very heavy whisk, add carrot mixture to batter and fold in well.
6. Pour into prepared 8x12 inch pan, and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. (45 minutes if doing 2 layer pans). Check with toothpick.
7. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Cream Cheese Frosting

INGREDIENTS
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoons vanilla extract

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, cream together the cream cheese and butter until creamy. Mix in the vanilla, then gradually stir in the confectioners' sugar. (Add powdered sugar to taste- may add 1 extra cup powdered sugar depending on desired sweetness). Store in the refrigerator after use.

**** Add 1/3 cup cocoa powder to make the frosting chocolate flavored! ****

(After frosting the cake, top with flowers made with slices of Almonds and bits of Jelly Belly candies)