Grumpy's birthday was coming up soon and when it is his birthday, I like to make his favorite things. Ironically, they seem to be the things I make less often. His family was planning to come for a visit to see our new house and spend time with us for Grumpy and his brother Scott's birthday which happen to be only a few days apart. This was the perfect time to make lasagna, cheesy garlic bread, and carrot cake.
I wanted to make an awesome meal. We both took the day his family was going to arrive off to prepare. I made the lasagna completely from scratch, meaning I didn't take the shortcut of using spaghetti sauce and made my own. I put it all together and was going to put the cover on to refrigerate until it was time to bake. When I opened the cupboard door to get the cover, and when I reached up to get it, a 9x9 baking dish and one of my glass loaf pans fell, and the loaf pan shattered the 9x9 baking dish right into my beautifully prepped lasagna. I was devastated. There was no way I could bake that lasagna and feed it to anyone. Talk about a kitchen disaster.
I tossed the whole pan of lasagna in the trash and went to the bathroom and turned on the shower and cried. Grumpy came in and told me not to worry about it. Well, I had to worry about it. I had already told his step-mom what I was feeding them and it was supposed to be a special family meal. I cried a little longer in the shower feeling sorry for myself, then after I was dressed, decided to take the jaunt down to the local grocery to buy what I needed to make yet another pan of lasagna. When it was all said and done Grumpy had his favorite dish of lasagna and his Best Birthday Carrot Cake ever!
- Cake Ingredients:
- 1-⅔ cups granulated sugar
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1-½ cups canola oil
- 4 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup dark raisins
- Frosting Ingredients:
- 2-8 oz packages ⅓ less fat cream cheese, softened
- 1 stick salted butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1-16 ounce box powdered sugar
- chopped walnuts
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare 3-9 inch round cake pans by spraying with non-stick cooking spray and lining with parchment paper. I highly recommend you do this as my cakes have stuck without doing so.
- In large mixing bowl combine first 5 ingredients (sugar through baking soda). Add eggs, vanilla extract, and vegetable oil and mix until thoroughly combined. (I use my kitchen aid mixer with paddle attachment, but you can also use a hand mixer).
- Stir in grated carrots, walnuts, and raisins. Distribute evenly between the 3 baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and let cool completely before frosting.
- To make the frosting, blend cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add the vanilla extract and gradually add the powdered sugar, mixing until creamy and completely combined. Frost cake and decorate with chopped walnuts. I recommend storing leftovers in the refrigerator but it is not necessary (if you don't have room like me!).
Sheena @ Hot Eats and Cool Reads
This looks like a perfect carrot cake!! Just delicious!!
Yvonne [Tried and Tasty]
Wow, that looks so moist & delicious!
Sara Glover
Oh this sounds so good! Thanks for sharing!
Christie Daruwalla
Oh no! What a shame. So glad it all worked out in the end. I am sure this cake was a great way to end the night.
Stephanie Daigneault
Thank you SO much for posting this! My dad made the best carrot cake and when he passed 10 years ago we could not find it written anywhere. This looks very, very similar. It was really THE BEST!
anyonita green
This carrot cake looks downright GORGEOUS! Carrot cake is my absolute favorite but I've never tried making one myself, but there's no way I can resist this one! 🙂 Beautiful!
Mary Ellen
Hi Shelby, I would of done the same thing I think. I can only imagine the panic you felt when that dish broke! The carrot cake looks fantastic!
Jenne
I love carrot cake! I need to really try this one at home.
Mama.Mommy.Mom.
My daughter (who is 7) will pass up any other dessert for a slice of carrot cake! She would be SO happy if I made this for her.
Nicky Omohundro
Carrot Cake is one of my favorite cakes. Slightly healthier than other cakes, it's moist and delicious. This recipe looks quite tasty. I hope Grumpy enjoyed his birthday.
~~louise~~
I really don't know why I haven't commented before Shelby. You have such an inviting blog. I guess I should tell you that I just checked to see if I had the ingredients to bake up a Carrot Cake today too, lol...It happens to be snowing again and Carrot Cake is sounding mighty good after reading your post! Thank you!
~~louise~~
Hi Shelby,
I have been a lurker on your blog for quite a while now but today I feel compelled to comment after reading your lasagna story. It sounds like you just picked up the pieces and started again, Kudos to you! I'm not sure I would have had the patience. "Grumpy" was so sweet to encourage you not to worry about it too:) Lasagna is no easy meal to prepare especially twice!
The carrot cake looks awesome! I'm sure it was heavenly and enjoyed by all. Thank you so much for sharing your mishap with us and the final delicious looking meal. Louise
P.s. I just happen have a Carrot Cake Pinterest board so, I will be pinning your yummy looking cake:)
honeyb
Hi Louise, thank you so much for leaving a comment to let me know you had read my post. It means a lot when someone does that - especially when they have been a "lurker" as you state. I'm happy to have compelled you to let me know you were here! Thank you for pinning!