The Ultimate Carrot Cake

30 minutes

Scroll to the bottom of the page to see questions Lindsey has answered about this recipe

This recipe is from Delia's Cakes.

Well, it has to be said.

There have been many versions over the years, but this is the ultimate and it’s great for a birthday or any other celebration. At the football club we make them into little cakes, and half the mixture makes six large or twelve small cup cakes.

The Delia Online Cookery School: You can watch Delia explain how to roast pecan nuts in our cookery school video on this page.

Got a question on Delia's recipes? Ask Lindsey

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Freezing with or without the syrup

Asked by: Judith E

I want to make the ultimate carrot cake to freeze before I ice it. Can it be frozen as the syrup goes into the warm cake, after the syrup is in? I also want to leave the nuts out. Will their loss affect the texture?

Answered by Lindsey: Hello, I would freeze the cake with the syrup. The texture will be a little different but still good. Kind regards Lindsey

Getting ahead with Ultimate Carrot Cake

Asked by: Barbarab

Hello Lindsey, I am looking to make the Ultimate Carrot Cake for a birthday, can I make and store the cake 3 days before, ice and decorate on the date

Answered by Lindsey: Hello, Yes, is you keep it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place and intend to eat the decorated cake on the day or by the day following the birthday. If not, you could freeze it if you lant it to keep for longer. Kind regards Lindsey

Method

First of all, pre-heat the oven to 170ºC, gas mark 3, then you need to roast all the pecans (for the cake and the topping)

Just spread them out on a tray and pop them into the oven near the centre for 8 minutes – use a timer to help you remember. You can also click on the Cookery School Video on this page to watch how to do this.

Now to make the cake. First place the sugar, eggs and oil in a bowl and whisk them together with an electric hand whisk for 2–3 minutes until the sugar has dissolved. Next sift the flour, spice and bicarbonate of soda into the bowl – the little bits of bran left in the sieve can be tipped in at the end. Now fold all this in gently. After that, add the rest of the cake ingredients. Then divide the mixture evenly between the prepared tins and level them off with the back of a tablespoon. Bake the cakes near the centre of the oven for 30 minutes until they are springy and firm in the centre.

While the cakes are cooking make the icing by simply whisking the mascarpone, cinnamon, milk (or orange juice) and sugar in a bowl till smooth and fluffy. Then cover the bowl and chill until needed. For the syrup glaze, whisk together the sugar and fruit juices in another bowl, and as soon as the cakes come out of the oven, first stab them all over with a skewer and then spoon the syrup evenly over the hot cakes. After that they need to cool in their tins in order to soak up all of the syrup.

As soon as they are completely cold remove them from the tins. Place one of the cakes on a serving plate, spread one third of the icing all over, then place the other cake on top and finally cover the top and sides with the remaining mixture.

If you are not going to serve it straight away, cover and chill until needed.

But don’t forget to decorate with the nuts just before serving

Ingredients

175g dark brown soft sugar

2 large eggs

150ml sunflower oil

200g wholemeal self-raising flour

3 level teaspoons mixed spice

1 level teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

200g carrots, peeled and coarsely grated

grated zest of 1 orange

110g sultanas

50g desiccated coconut

50g toasted pecan nuts, chopped (see recipe for toasting instructions)

For the cinnamon icing:

2 x 250g tubs mascarpone

1 heaped teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons milk (or orange juice)

1 rounded tablespoon golden caster sugar

50g chopped toasted pecan nuts (to finish)

For the syrup glaze:

75g dark brown soft sugar

juice of 1 small orange

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Equipment

You will need two Delia Online 20cm by 4cm Sponge Tins (or similar), bases lined with liners or parchment

The Delia Online Bakeware range is now available online, and you can buy our 20cm Round Sponge Tins with loose base, and washable, reusable liners direct from Silverwood.

Click here for the liners
Click here for the tins