Half-the-Fat Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting |
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Prep Time: 0 Minutes Cook Time: 0 Minutes |
Ready In: 0 Minutes Servings: 20 |
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Traditional carrot cakes have as much as 1 1/2 cups of oil; this one has far less fat—only 1/2 cup of butter. But you'll be amazed at how moist and tender the cake is. Draining the carrots in a colander helps maintain the cake's texture while keeping it from becoming too heavy. Ingredients:
3/4 cup applesauce |
5 cups shredded carrot (about 1 pound) |
3/4 cup granulated sugar |
3/4 cup packed dark brown sugar |
1/2 cup butter, softened |
1 teaspoon vanilla extract |
1 teaspoon coconut extract |
2 large eggs |
2 large egg whites |
2 cups all-purpose flour |
2 teaspoons baking powder |
1 teaspoon baking soda |
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg |
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon |
1/4 teaspoon salt |
1 cup golden raisins |
cooking spray |
4 cups sifted powdered sugar |
2 teaspoons vanilla extract |
1 (8-ounce) block fat-free cream cheese, chilled |
1 (8-ounce) block 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, chilled |
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. To prepare the cake, spoon the applesauce into a fine sieve over a bowl; let stand 15 minutes. Discard liquid. Scrape drained applesauce into a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
3. Combine carrot and granulated sugar in a colander. Drain 20 minutes.
4. Beat the brown sugar and butter with a mixer at medium speed until well-blended (about 2 minutes). Add applesauce, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and coconut extract; beat until well-blended (about 2 minutes). Add eggs and egg whites, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition (batter will have a slightly curdled look).
5. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (flour through salt); stir well with a whisk. Add brown sugar mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Fold in carrot mixture and raisins (batter will be very thick). Spoon batter into a 13 x 9-inch baking pan coated with cooking spray.
6. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.
7. To prepare the frosting, beat the powdered sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and cheeses with a mixer at low speed just until well-blended (do not overbeat). Spread the frosting over the cake; cover and chill 1 hour.
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