Indulge in a comforting slice of homemade carrot cake loaf, a moist and tender treat spiced with cinnamon and topped with a luscious brown butter cream cheese frosting. Each slice is rich with the goodness of finely shredded carrots, making it a wholesome and satisfying dessert or snack.
Yield: 1 loaf, serving the soul with sweetness
Ingredients:
For the Carrot Cake Loaf:
- 1/2 cup of olive oil or vegetable oil for moisture
- 1 cup of brown sugar, for a deep molasses flavor
- 2 large eggs, to bind the ingredients
- 1/4 cup of plain Greek yogurt for creaminess
- 1 tsp of vanilla extract, for a flavor base
- 1 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour, for structure
- 1 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon, for warmth and spice
- 1 tsp of baking soda, for lift
- 1 tsp of baking powder, for volume
- 1/2 tsp of salt, to balance the sweetness
- 2 cups of finely shredded carrots, for texture and taste
For the Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/4 cup of butter, browned to perfection
- 4 oz of cream cheese at room temperature, for tang and smoothness
- 1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar, for sweetness
- 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract, for an aromatic touch
- A splash of milk, to achieve the desired consistency
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Whisk together the oil, brown sugar, eggs, Greek yogurt, and vanilla.
- In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
- Grate the carrots, squeeze out excess juice, and stir into the wet ingredients along with the dry mix until just combined.
- Prepare an 8"x4" loaf pan with grease and optional parchment paper. Pour the batter in and bake for 45-50 minutes.
- While baking, brown the butter for the frosting, then chill it. Once cooled, whip it with cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth.
- Once the loaf is cool, spread the frosting on top. Add crushed pecans for garnish if desired.
Baking this carrot cake loaf is a delightful way to celebrate the simple pleasures of home baking. Share the recipe with loved ones and bookmark it for your next baking adventure! Enjoy every spiced, moist bite!
