Nina's Brazilian Carrot Cake

Decidedly different from its American counterpart, Brazilian carrot cake uses carrots that are blended with oil, sugar, and eggs instead of grated resulting in a light, moist, tender cake. Traditionally, the frosting is chocolate!

• Preparation Time: 25 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Calories: 478 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ teaspoon salt
• 4 large eggs
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 ⅔ cups peeled and chopped carrots
• 1 (3.5 ounce) bar bittersweet chocolate, broken into small pieces

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan.

Step 2

Sift together flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.

Step 3

Blend oil, sugar, eggs, and carrots in a blender, stopping to scrape down sides, until creamy and smooth, about 1 minute. Pour puree into a large bowl, then whisk in flour mixture until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Step 4

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 40 minutes. Transfer pan to a rack to cool, about 1 hour.

Step 5

Stir together milk, chocolate, honey, and butter in a heavy saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth, thick, and reduced to about 1 1/8 cups, about 10 minutes.

Step 6

Pour frosting into a metal bowl and set in a larger bowl of ice water. Stir frosting until cooled and thickened, about 5 minutes. Frost cake evenly and cut into 12 pieces to serve.