image: cookiesbycartier.com

OK, so I do consider myself as a ‘Happy Go Healthy’ type… but once and a while I do have my cake, and I do in fact eat it (all!). Whenever I go out for dinner, I’m usually the one who would love to “skip straight to dessert,” and I mean that in the literal, non-sexual sense! That being said, I do believe I may be more healthy than I actually give myself credit for… I love chocolate covered cherries, pumpkin pie and apple atrudel, all of which contain one of my 5-a-day!

This evening, I intend on pushing the boat out and attempting to bake a cake. After extensive research, I believe I’ve found the recipe which best suits me; it’s a decadent chocolate carrot cake, which will give me some veggies, as well as what we all really want… CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!!!! erm, excuse me… here’s the recipe!

INGREDIENTS

For Cake Layers:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch-process)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon each baking powder and baking soda
• 4 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 4 medium carrots, shredded coarse (about 2 cups)

For Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup confectioners’ or powdered sugar

For Chocolate Glaze:

• 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 3 ounces fine-quality BITTERSWEET chocolate (not unsweetened)
• 6 tablespoons heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup confectioners’ or powdered sugar

PREPARATION

For Cake Layers:

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. and grease and flour two 9 by 2-inch round cake pans, knocking of excess flour.
2. Into a bowl sift together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda and baking powder.
3. In a large bowl with an electric mixer beat together eggs and oil on low speed until combined well.
4. Add flour mixture and beat until just combined.
5. Stir in carrots and divide batter between pans.
6. Bake cake layers in middle of oven 45 to 50 minutes.
7. Cool cake in pans on a rack 10 minutes and invert onto rack to cool completely.

For Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. In a bowl with an electric mixer beat together cream cheese and butter until smooth.
2. Add vanilla and confectioners’ sugar and beat untl creamy.
3. Spread frosting on top of 1 cake layer and top with 2nd layer.

For Chocolate Glaze:

1. In a small saucepan combine glaze ingredients and cook over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until chocolate is melted and glaze is smooth.
2. Remove from heat and cool glaze slightly.
3. Spread glaze over top and sides of cake and chill 1 hour, or until set.

Thanks Blisstree.com! As you can see, this is much more complicated than those I usually go for, but I am a believer that yummy chocolately goodness requires a bit of effort.

Love to all,
Naimah