Gingered Carrot Cake

Total Time: 1 hr Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 30 mins

Ingredients

• Servings: 12
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 4 beaten eggs
• 3 cups finely shredded carrots
• 3/4 cup cooking oil
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger or 2 teaspoons grated gingerroot
• 2 (3 ounce) packages cream cheese
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 tablespoon orange juice or 1 tablespoon apricot brandy
• 4 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar, sifted
• 3/4 cup mixed dried fruit (optional)
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans (optional) or 1 cup walnuts (optional)

Recipe

• 1 grease and flour two 9" round cake pans.
• 2 in a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder and baking soda.
• 3 in a medium mixing bowl, combine the eggs, carrot, oil, dried fruit bits (if using) and ginger. stir the egg mixture into the dry mixture. pour into prepared pans.
• 4 bake in 350 oven for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
• 5 to make frosting: beat together 2 packages of cream cheese, butter and orange juice. gradually beat in enough sifted confectioner's sugar to make frosting of spreading consistency.
• 6 frost top, middle and sides of cake and press nuts into frosting, if desired.