Carrot cake with orange aroma
Description
There are no small details in cake making! Be sure to toast the nuts and grate the carrot on a fine “cheese” grater. For the cream, use powdered sugar and quality butter. You can omit the jam in the sponge soaking if you’re not a huge sweet tooth.
Instructions
- 1
Step 1
Toast the nuts in a pan, let them cool, and coarsely chop them.
- 2
Step 2
Peel the carrots, pat them dry, and grate them on a fine grater. Choose a juicy variety.
- 3
Step 3
Beat the yolks with sugar and honey into a fluffy light mass. It should fall from the whisk in a continuous ribbon. While continuing to beat, gradually add the vegetable oil. Beat until uniform and fluffy.
- 4
Step 4
Add the nuts, cinnamon, and freshly grated orange zest to the eggs.
- 5
Step 5
Add the sifted flour with baking soda and leavening agent, and a pinch of salt. Mix the dough with a spatula, without striving for a perfectly uniform consistency.
- 6
Step 6
Add the carrots and mix well. Beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form and fold them into the batter in three additions with a spatula, folding from top to bottom and in a circular motion.
- 7
Step 7
Pour the batter into two identical pans. It’s best to line the bottom with parchment paper, and wrap the outside of the pans in foil in two layers. This technique will give a smooth surface of the layers, without bumps in the middle. Bake the layers in a preheated 200‑degree oven for about 40 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick. Do not over‑dry the layers; rely on your oven. They should be moist.
- 8
Step 8
Let the baked layers cool slightly in the pans and remove them onto a rack together with the paper. Cool completely. You can leave the layers overnight, covering them with a microwave lid.
- 9
Step 9
For the cream, beat room‑temperature butter with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until a white, fluffy mixture forms. Add the cottage cheese cream in portions and beat until smooth.
- 10
Step 10
Cut each cake into 2 layers. If desired, spread each layer with a little orange jam.
- 11
Step 11
Spread the layers with cream and stack them on top of each other.
- 12
Step 12
Cover the top and sides of the cake with cream. Smooth and decorate the cake according to your skill and imagination. Place it in the refrigerator for at least an hour to allow it to soak.
- 13
Step 13
Serve chilled; the cake is especially delicious.