Celebrate the flavors of autumn any time of year with this Spiced Carrot Cake, adorned with vegan cream cheese frosting and a hint of fresh orange, perfect for a cozy gathering or special occasion.
Ingredients:
For 3x 6-Inch Cakes:
- 2 ½ cups (300g) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (120g) granulated sugar or superfine/caster sugar
- ½ cup (120g) soft brown sugar
- 3 tsp baking powder
- 1 ¾ tsp baking soda
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp sea salt
- 1 cup plus 2 tbsp (270ml) soy or almond milk
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup (120ml) sunflower oil or similar light oil
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp orange zest
- 1 ¾ cups (225g) freshly grated carrots
- ⅘ cup (100g) finely chopped walnuts
For 2x 8-Inch Cakes:
- Adjust the above quantities as noted in the ingredient list.
For Garnish:
- Vegan cream cheese frosting
- Freshly squeezed orange juice (for frosting flavoring)
- Chopped walnuts (optional, for garnish)
Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 347°F (175°C). Line cake tins with parchment and spray the sides with oil.
- Combine soy milk and apple cider vinegar in a jug; let sit for 10 minutes to curdle.
- Add oil, vanilla extract, and orange zest to the jug and stir.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, both sugars, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry, whisking just until combined. Fold in grated carrots and walnuts.
- Divide batter between cake pans. Bake 6" cakes for 30-35 minutes, and 8" cakes for 25-30 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cool cakes in tins for 15-20 minutes, then on a rack.
- For the frosting, reduce orange juice to 50ml, cool, then mix into vegan cream cheese frosting.
- To assemble, spread frosting between layers and around the cake. Decorate with walnuts or as desired.
This Spiced Carrot Cake is a delightfully moist and flavorful treat, topped with a creamy, citrus-infused frosting that's sure to impress. Enjoy the melding of spices, carrot, and orange in this vegan delight!
