Carrot Cake

 It’s the cake that sounds healthy but is decadent!  I love layer cakes as they really make you feel like you have made a “real” cake.  There is so much room to experiment with decorating as well.  As I am only just beginning I went the traditional route for this one and added a few silver balls.

I chose carrot cake as it is an American and British classic.  The Hummingbird recipe for the sponge was really good.  I realise I should have chopped my walnuts more for it, but otherwise there is nothing bad for me to say other that the filling/topping. 

 

I used a cream cheese frosting that this recipe required, and it was this component that ruined the cake in my mind.  The frosting was ridiculously sweet.  Alarm bells started ringing when I saw myself (following the recipe) mixing 600g of icing sugar to make this specific icing … It was this sugar that gave a sickening taste.  The problem was aggravated as the carrot cake sponge itself was already quite sweet.  A simple topping to ease that sweetness is all that would be needed in my mind.

My boyfriend and I had very upset stomachs because of the frosting.  It was a real shame as the cake itself was so good.  I would like to find another cream cheese frosting recipe, as the cream cheese gives a great taste with the carrot.  My boyfriend thought of simply mixing the cream cheese with some honey and using that.  Perhaps it could be an option.  I will definitely watch out for that Hummingbird frosting in the future.

In any event, looks-wise I was quite pleased.