Ingredients: 2 c all-purpose flour, sifted,1 tsp baking soda,1 tsp cinnamon,1/2 tsp ginger,1/4 tsp nutmeg,1/2 tsp salt,1 c olive oil,3 large eggs,2 tsp vanilla extract,1 c granulated sugar,1/2 c light brown sugar, packed,1/2 c light brown sugar, packed,1-1/2 c ripe bananas, mashed (about 3),1 c pineapple, pureed (about a 20-oz can, drained),3 c carrots, shredded,1 c sweetened, shredded coconut flakes,24 oz cream cheese, softened to room temperature,2 sticks unsalted butter, softened,1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract,2 c confectioners sugar (aka powdered sugar, 10x sugar, or icing sugar),1 c chopped pecans,Candied carrot curls (see recipe below)
Instructions:
- Hummingbird Carrot Cake
- Preheat oven to 350℉.
- Grease and parchment line two round 8” x 2” cake pans.
- In a bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, spices, and salt.
- Using a stand mixer or electric handheld mixer, blend together olive oil, eggs, and vanilla.
- Then, add both sugars and mix until smooth.
- Turn off the mixer and add the bowl of dry ingredients to the wet, all at once.
- Mix everything together just until combined (don’t overmix, or the cake may become too dense).
- Finally, by hand, fold in bananas, pineapple, carrots, and coconut.
- Evenly distribute the batter between two baking pans.
- Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let cool on the counter.
- Cream Cheese Frosting
- Using a stand mixer or handheld electric mixer, cream together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla.
- Then, add confectioners sugar and mix until smooth.
- Candied Carrot Curls
- Using a vegetable peeler, make long, wide strips of carrot.
- Preheat oven to 225℉ and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Add 1 c water and 1 c granulated sugar to a pot and bring to a boil.
- Lower the temperature slightly, add carrots, and simmer for 15 minutes.
- Then, drain carrots from the pot and let cool for about 5 minutes.
- Next, place carrots on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes.
- While still warm, wrap carrots around the handle of a wooden spoon, then let them cool for about 30 minutes.
- Decorating Hummingbird Carrot Cake
- Once the baked cakes have cooled, apply a thick layer of cream cheese frosting on top of one layer, then add the second layer on top, and apply a crumb coat of frosting to the entire outside of the cake.
- After applying the crumb coat, place the cakes in the fridge for 30 minutes before adding the final layer of frosting.
- Finally, add cream cheese frosting over the entire cake and decorate with pecans and candied carrot curls. Enjoy!
