Carrot Cake With White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting - cooking recipe

Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE
4 eggs
1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 1/4 cups carrots, shredded
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup pineapple, crushed, well-drained
FOR THE FROSTING
1 1/2 lbs cream cheese, room temperature
2 cups white chocolate chips, melted
3/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
2 teaspoons lemon zest, minced
2 cups walnuts, chopped (more or less)

Preparation

FOR THE CAKE: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F & line the bottom of three 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper, leaving the sides of the pan dry.
In a large mixing bowl & with a hand mixer, beat together eggs & oil, mixing well. Add 1 cup of the sugar & continue mixing for 2 minutes, then add the remaining sugar & mix for 3 to 4 minutes.
In another container, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, cloves & nutmeg, then add this to the egg mixture, beating on low speed until blended, about 1 minute.
Add carrots, walnuts & pineapple, mixing until well combined.
Divide batter among the prepared pans & bake 60 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
On a wire rack cool to room temperature, then run a knife around the edge of the cakes & remove them from the pans, before wrapping in plastic wrap & refrigerating them overnight.
FOR THE FROSTING: Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl & beat with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add melted chocolate a little at a time, continuing to beat at medium speed.
Add butter a little at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl, then add the zest & beat until combined.
Remove cakes from the refrigerator, then ice the top of one layer, place the 2nd layer on top of that & ice the top of that layer. Place the 3rd layer on top & ice the top & sides of the cake.
Press chopped walnuts into the sides of the cake & ENJOY!