Bourbon Carrot Cake

Charles Gold

Because it is exquisitely rich, we serve this favorite in thin slices.

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Yields: 16

Cal/Serv: 717

Ingredients

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Cake:

3/4 c. golden raisins
1/2 c. bourbon
2 c. unsifted all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp. ground allspice
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
1 1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. light brown sugar
4 large eggs
8 medium carrots
1 c. ground walnuts

Frosting:

1/2 c. butter
1 package cream cheese
1 package confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions

Step 1Prepare Cake: In small bowl, combine raisins and bourbon; set aside for 1 hour.
Step 2Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour two 9-inch round baking pans. In medium-size bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves; set aside.
Step 3In large bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and eggs until well combined, scraping side of bowl occasionally with rubber spatula.
Step 4Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture just until combined. Do not overbeat. Drain raisins, reserving the bourbon. With rubber spatula, fold in 3 cups carrots, the raisins, and 1 cup walnuts. Divide batter between pans.
Step 5Bake cake layers 35 to 40 minutes or until cake tester inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool cakes in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Invert cakes onto wire racks and remove pan; cool cakes.
Step 6In small saucepan, combine reserved bourbon and remaining 1 1/2 cups carrots. Cook over high heat 2 to 3 minutes or just until carrots soften and most of bourbon evaporates. Set aside to cool completely.
Step 7Prepare frosting: In large bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat butter and cream cheese until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Slowly beat in confectioners' sugar until well combined.
Step 8To assemble cake, place 1 cake layer on serving plate and spread one-third of frosting over top. Place other layer evenly on top of frosted layer. Frost side and top of cake with remaining frosting. Sprinkle bourbon-carrot shreds on top and side of frosted cake. Sprinkle remaining 3 tablespoons of walnuts around bottom edge of cake to form a border.

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