Dive into the rich layers of this luxurious carrot cake, where every bite offers a perfect blend of spiced, moist cake, crunchy pecan praline, and a decadent brown butter cream cheese frosting. This exquisite cake combines classic flavors with a sophisticated twist, making it a show-stopping dessert for any celebration or gathering.
Why You’ll Love This: This carrot cake elevates the traditional recipe with its gourmet components. The brown butter adds a deep, nutty flavor to the cream cheese frosting, enriching the overall taste profile. The pecan praline introduces a delightful crunch, complementing the soft, moist texture of the spiced carrot cake layers. It’s a culinary masterpiece that balances sweetness, spice, and texture in every slice.
Perfect Occasion: Ideal for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, or holiday gatherings, this carrot cake promises to impress your guests and become the centerpiece of your dessert table. It’s also perfect for a weekend baking project when you want to treat yourself and your loved ones to something extra special.
Decoration Tips:
- Garnish the top of the cake with additional pecan praline pieces and a drizzle of caramel for an elegant finish.
- Decorate with edible flowers or a dusting of cinnamon for a festive look.
- Serve each slice on a plate with a dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of honey to enhance the flavors.
- Consider adding a few whole pecans around the edges for a professional bakery touch.
Ingredients:
For the Cake:
- Toasted pecans: 200g, chopped
- Grated carrots: 450g
- Buttermilk: 240g
- All-purpose flour: 325g
- Cinnamon: 1 and 1/2 tablespoons
- Ground ginger: 1 teaspoon
- Fresh ground cloves: 2 sticks
- Baking powder: 1 tablespoon
- Baking soda: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
- Eggs: 4
- White sugar: 150g
- Brown sugar: 150g
- Vegetable oil: 225g
For the Pecan Praline:
- Toasted pecans: 100g
- Sugar: 100g
- Vegetable oil: 1 tablespoon
- Salt: 1/2 teaspoon
For the Brown Butter Cream Cheese Frosting:
- Cold cream cheese: 400g
- Cold browned butter: 100g
- Powdered sugar: 300g
Instructions:
- Cake Preparation:
- Whisk eggs and sugars until thick and light in color. Gradually add oil.
- Alternately mix in dry ingredients and buttermilk, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Fold in carrots and pecans.
- Divide the batter among three prepared pans (660g each) and bake at 190°C for 20-25 minutes. Let cool.
- Pecan Praline:
- Melt sugar until golden, add pecans, and spread on parchment. Sprinkle with salt, cool, and then break into pieces.
- Frosting:
- Brown the butter, let cool. Mix with cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until creamy.
- Assemble the Cake:
- Layer cake with cream cheese frosting and pecan praline between each layer. Cover the entire cake with frosting.
- If necessary, chill the cake to firm up before final assembly.
Enjoy this luxurious layered carrot cake, a perfect blend of flavors and textures that’s sure to delight all who try it!
