Not Your Typical Valentine's Cake

One of my favorite recipes for holidays or special gatherings, hope you enjoy it!

Whenever I am considering what to make for dessert for a gathering, birthday, holiday or to take to a friend, the first thing that comes to mind or is requested is a carrot cake from a recipe that I found in a cookbook I received as an engagement gift 27 years ago.

It is not your typical carrot cake recipe, there are no nuts and no raisins. It is like a spice cake with carrots and has a delicious cream cheese frosting. The recipe makes a 9 x 13 sheet cake with very thick frosting but you could easily turn it into a layer cake.

The best part is that over the years with the help of different colored sprinkles, it has been a graduation cake for 3 different schools, a Mardi Gras cake, a birthday cake, a Fourth of July cake, and now if you choose to make it... a Valentine's Day cake. There are so many different sprinkles at the grocery store, Michael's, etc. that you can make something beautiful to celebrate the ones you love this holiday and many different holidays in the future.

Try this recipe, I promise you and the people who get to enjoy it will be glad you did. Let me know what you think!

Carrot Cake

• 2 cups, plus 1 tablespoon of flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 3 cups grated, peeled carrots (I use one bag of shredded carrots from the produce section) 

Mix dry ingredients in a mixer bowl. Add remaining ingredients and beat on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Spread in a greased 9" x 13" baking pan or two greased 8" round pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until the pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Frost, when cool, with cream cheese frosting (see below). Garnish as desired. Serves 10-12.

Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup of butter (one stick), softened (use real butter, it's worth it)
• 1 1/2 pounds of powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Blend cream cheese and butter well. Gradually add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Add vanilla and blend well.