Carrot Cake Slices

I've been craving for this cake last week. Maybe because I haven't had it for a year now. Despite my busy weekdays, I managed to bake and finish at 11:00 PM last Thursday night. Me and my cravings!

Here's another very easy recipe for you guys, no need to have a mixer (for the cake at least) but a hand mixer will do for the icing. The recipe measurement though is in weight.  

Ingredients:

400 g plain flour
15   g baking powder
10   g cinnamon powder
5     g ground nutmeg
1     tsp salt

400 g grated carrots
360 g sugar
4 pcs. large eggs
260 ml canola oil
180 g walnuts
180 g crushed pineapple,strained (you can substitute raisins, soaked in rum)
40   g honey


Cream Cheese Icing:

1 bar (250 g) light *cream cheese
125 g butter
2 1/2 to 3 1/2 c powdered or icing sugar**
2 tsps. lemon juice
zest of lemon, if desired

Procedure:

1. Preheat oven at 350 F or 170 F.
2. Mix all first five dry ingredients together .
3. In a mixing bowl, combine carrots,sugar and the rest of the liquid ingredients. Mix until blended together.
4. Add dry ingredients and mix until there are no traces of flour. 
5. Then, add crushed pineapple & walnuts.
6. If using a round pan, you can bake the cake batter in two 8" round pan or rectangular pan. Line your pan with baking paper.
7. Bake for 45 to 55 mins. or until done. Baking time varies depending on the size of the pan you used.  

      Procedure for Icing:

• Make sure the cream cheese and butter are both soft. Take it out of the fridge an hour or so before beating them together. Otherwise, you'll have tiny lumps of butter or cream cheese.
• In a bowl, beat the first two ingredients until well blended.
• Gradually add the icing sugar.
• Lastly,  the lemon juice & zest. 

      Finishing the cake:

• Ensure that your carrot cake has cool down completely before finishing it with cream cheese icing.
• Using a metal spatula, spread the icing on top.
• You can color some of the icing with orange and green for carrots and leaves.
• Suggested toppings: chopped walnut or drizzle with caramel sauce or dulce de leche (as shown on photo). 

 Notes: 
*  Regular cream cheese can be used, of course.
**If you don't want your cream cheese icing very sweet, you can use 2 1/2 c icing sugar.