Tropical Carrot Cake
INGREDIENTS
- Cooking Time: 30 min
- Servings: 8-10
- Preparation Time: 60 min
- 2 1/3 cups sifted all purpose flour (sifted, then measured)
- 1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
- 1 cup dry-roasted macadamia nuts
- 3/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
- 3 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups finely grated peeled carrots
- 2 8-ounce cans crushed pineapple in its own juice, well drained
- coconut cream cheese frosting
- 14 whole dry-roasted macadamia nuts
- 1/4 cup chopped crystallized ginger
DIRECTIONS
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Butter three 9-inch-diameter cake pans with 1 1/2-inch-high sides.
- Line bottom of pans with parchment paper.
- Combine 1/3 cup flour and next 3 ingredients in processor.
- Process until nuts are finely chopped.
- Whisk remaining 2 cups flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in medium bowl to blend.
- Using electric mixer, beat sugar and oil in large bowl to blend.
- Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Beat in vanilla.
- Beat in flour-spice mixture.
- Stir in coconut-macadamia mixture, then carrots and crushed pineapple.
- Divide batter among pans.
- Bake until tester inserted into center of cakes comes out clean, about 30 minutes.
- Cool in pans on racks 1 hour.
- Run knife around edge of pans to loosen cakes. Turn cakes out onto racks; cool completely.
- Place 1 cake layer, flat side up, on platter. Spread 3/4 cup frosting over top of cake.
- Top with second cake layer, flat side up.
- Spread 3/4 cup frosting over.
- Top with third cake layer, rounded side up, pressing slightly to adhere.
- Spread thin layer of frosting over top and sides of cake.
- Chill cake and remaining frosting 30 minutes. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.
- Arrange whole nuts and ginger around top edge of cake.
- Chill 1 hour. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover with cake dome and chill.
- Let stand at room temperature 1 hour before serving.)