A "Perfect" Carrot Cake for Easter

Courtney Rich made Carrot Cake Cupcakes. Follow Courtney on Instagram @cakebycourtney and on her website, www.cakebycourtney.com.

CARROT CAKE RECIPE

• 1 cup (218 g) vegetable or canola oil
• 1/2 cup (125 g) applesauce can substitute with crushed pineapple
• 1 cup (220 g) packed brown sugar
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• 6 eggs at room temperature
• 2 tsp. (8.4 g) vanilla extract
• 3 cups (360 g) all purpose flour
• 2 tsp. (5.3 g) ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. (1.2 g) ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp. (.8 g) ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. (.8 g) ground cloves
• 1 Tbsp. (10 g) baking powder
• 1 tsp. (4 g) baking soda
• 1 tsp. (5.6 g) salt
• 4 cups (400 g.) freshly grated carrots
• FOR THE BUTTERCREAM
• 1 1/2 cups (339 g) unsalted butter slightly cold
• 6 oz. cream cheese slightly cold
• 6 cups (750 g) powdered sugar measured and then sifted
• 3 tbsp. (45 g) heavy whipping cream
• 1 tsp. (4.2 g) vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• Instructions FOR THE CAKE

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray three 8-inch round cake pans with nonstick spray, line the bottoms with parchment paper and spray again. Set aside.
2. In a medium size mixing bowl, combine the flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Whisk to combine. Set aside.
3. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the oil and sugars. Beat on medium speed for about two minutes.
4. Add the applesauce and vanilla and then stir to combine.
5. With the mixer on medium speed, gradually add the eggs, making sure to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl between additions. Once all of the eggs are combined, beat the mixture for about a minute on medium speed.
6. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the flour mixture.
7. Fold in the carrots.
8. Evenly divide the cake batter between the three prepared pans (about 20 ounces of batter in each). Bake for 25 to 27 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs on it.
9. Let the cake layers cool in the pans on cooling racks for about 10 to 15 minutes. Invert the cake layers onto the cooling racks to cool completely.
10. Level cake layers, if needed.
11. Cake layers can be made ahead of time. To store: let cake layers cool to room temperature and then wrap well with plastic wrap and freeze. Before you decorate your frozen cake layers, let them thaw at room temperature for about 30 to 60 minutes prior to decorating.

FOR THE BUTTERCREAM

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine the butter and cream cheese. Beat on medium speed for about two minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
2. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar, followed by the cream, vanilla and pinch of salt.
3. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed and beat for about 3 to 5 minutes.

ASSEMBLY

1. Place the first cake layer, top side up, on a cake plate or cake board.
2. Evenly spread about 1 cup of buttercream on the cake layer. Place the second cake layer on top of the buttercream and spread another 1 cup of buttercream over the second layer.
3. Place the third cake layer top side down.
4. Apply a thin layer of buttercream over the entire cake. This is the crumb coat. Freeze the crumb coated cake for about 15 minutes to set the crumb coat.
5. Once the crumb coat is set, continue decorating the cake with the remaining buttercream.