Easter is the perfect moment to get together with family for some old-fashioned fun and some homemade treats. Enjoy an extensive breakfast, a relaxed brunch or a lovely dinner with your loved ones. Not sure what to make this year? We’ll help you on your way with this recipe for simply the best carrot cake. Enjoy it during afternoon tea or save the best for last and wait till after Easter dinner.

Preparation: approx. 45 min. Baking time: 60 min.
You’ll need:
Two 23 cm spring form cake tins
Two mixing bowls
Mixer with beaters
Grater

Ingredients for 12 slices of delicious carrot cake:
325 grams of flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
½ teaspoon of salt
½ teaspoon of mixed spices
270 grams of soft brown sugar
240 ml sunflower oil
3 eggs
¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract
1 large carrot
75 grams of sultanas
75 grams of chopped walnuts + extra for garnish

Ingredients frosting:
400 grams of soft cheese (at room temperature)
100 grams of softened butter (at room temperature)
Juice of ½ lemon
120 grams of icing sugar

How to make the cake:
Preheat the oven at 175°C. Mix the flour, bicarbonate of soda, spices and baking powder together. Use the other bowl to beat the eggs and add the soft brown sugar, sunflower oil and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly. Combine the two mixtures and mix until smooth. Grate the carrot. Important: do not drain the grated carrot; this will make the cake dry. Add the carrot, walnuts and sultanas to the mixture and stir until smooth.

Grease the spring form cake tins. Divide the mixture evenly over the two cake tins. If you only have one spring form tin, it’s possible to bake one, thicker cake and cut it in half later. Bake the cake for about 60 minutes. The cake is ready when a skewer comes out clean.

Tip: make the cake the evening before, so that the cake can cool down completely.

How to make the frosting:
Beat the butter until it’s smooth and fluffy. Mix the soft cheese with the lemon juice and the icing sugar through the butter until the mixture is smooth. Cover the first cake with frosting. Make sure that the cake is completely cool; otherwise the frosting will melt. Place the second cake on top and cover the cake with the rest of the frosting. Decorate your carrot cake with a garnish of walnuts.

Happy Easter and bon appetit!