Sweet Equations: The Karate Cake

*Okay, sure, a little corny on the title, and maybe I AM trying to ride the movie’s popularity a little. But no kids were harmed in the making of this cake.*

Welcome to another really yummy trip to the kitchen! For Father’s Day, we made Sam’s favorite- Carrot Cake! This is my version of it, with enough carrots and pineapple in it to call a slice one of your five servings of fruit and veggies, plus I use a whole wheat blend of flour to give it a little OOMPH!

 

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole wheat flour mix (we mix ours half whole wheat and half white for baking
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 4 cups grated carrots
• 12 oz crushed pineapple
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 round or 

heart shaped cake pans.

In a large bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 teaspoons vanilla

Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in carrots and pineapple.

Have your daughter storm from the room in a huff when you question her mad photog skillz.

Coax her back and fold in 1 cup of walnuts.

Pour into prepared pan.

 If you're using silicone pans, set them on a cookie sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.

To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla.

Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.

Frost the cooled cake and sprinkle with walnuts. Toffee chips are also excellent on this.

 

Have a little "chat" with your artsy photographer about why the finished product pictures are all upside down.