Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 3 cup sifted plain flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 cup walnuts, coarsely chopped
• 2 cup sugar
• 1 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 4 whole large eggs
• 3 cup raw carrots, finely grated/shredded
• 8 oz cream cheese, package
• 1 tsp vanilla flavoring
• 1 powdered sugar, 1 box
• 1/2 margarine, 1/2 stick
• 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped, for topping

Steps

1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

2. Mix together the raisins and walnuts. Toss with 2 tablespoons of the sifted flour mixture to coat.

3. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the sugar, oil, and vanilla.

4. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

5. Stir in the sifted dry ingredients in several additions, alternating with the carrots, blending just until smooth after each addition.

6. Stir in the floured raisins and walnuts mixture.

7. Pour batter into a greased pound-cake pan.

8. Bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 1 hour 20 minutes.

   1 h 20 min

9. Place cake on a rack to cool completely.

10. For the frosting, let the cream cheese and margarine soften, then beat together until smooth.

11. Add powdered sugar and vanilla flavoring; beat until smooth.

12. Let the cake cool completely, then spread the cream cheese frosting over the cake.

13. Optionally, chop about 1/3 cup walnuts and sprinkle on top of the frosted cake.