Carrot, Date and Pecan Cake

Moist and delicious cake with healthy ingredients like carrots, pecans, and dates along with the flavor from caramelized sugar. Tastes amazing without frosting but just a dusting of Confectionary sugar.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

You can also try this recipe with carrots, walnuts and fig combination which also works quite well! You can also use Gluten free white flour in place of APF in the recipe.

—CARROT,DATES & PECAN CAKE—

Course: Dessert/ Snack

Yield: 9-10 servings

Baking time: 45-50 mins
INGREDIENTS

All-purpose flour- 1 cup
Room temp Eggs-2
Baking soda- 3/4 tsp
Salt-1/2 Tsp
Vegetable oil-3/4 cup
Grated Carrots-1 cup
Chopped Pecans-1/2 cup
Pitted and Chopped dates-1 cup
Fine sugar or powdered in mixie blender(no need to sieve it)- 3/4 cup to 1 cup
Vanilla Extract- 1 tsp.
FOR CARAMEL SYRUP- 1/2 cup sugar and 1/4 cup hot water
Confectionery Sugar- 1/2 cup for dusting
Square cake tin / loaf pans work well

DIRECTION

To prepare the caramelized sugar syrup– Keep a small heavy-bottom saucepan on medium heat and add 1/2 cup sugar. Do not stir often and let the sugar melt and starts to simmer after 8- 10 mins.
Gently tilt the saucepan to evenly distribute the color as the sugar caramelizes. When it turns an amber color carefully pour hot water amd stir using wooden spatula.
Turn off the heat and make sure dont burn the sugar. Once done, you will get a light amber color syrup.The darker the color the bitter it will taste.
For the Cake Batter–
Prepare the cake tin by spraying cooking spray and lining with a parchment sheet.
In a small bowl gently mix the grated carrots, dates, and pecans. Once the cake batter is ready mix 2 tbsp. flour to this chopped mixture and fold into the batter to prevent sinking and for even distribution.

Batter preparation

In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs and sugar until pale and doubles in volume.
Now add the oil and vanilla extract and combine well using an electric mixer.
Add the cooled caramel sugar syrup to the wet mixture and combine well.
Sieve together the flour, salt, and baking soda into the wet mixture in 2 parts.
Fold the grated carrots, date and pecan mixture into the batter using a spatula.
Do not over mix the batter.
Pour the cake batter into the prepared dish and bake at 350°F for about 45- 50 mins or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
Transfer the cake tin onto a wire rack and let it cool.
Cut the cake into equal squares, dust with confectioners sugar and serve!
You can also use whipped cheese frosting for this cake which tastes absolutely delicious!