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Orange-Pineapple Carrot Cake

4.6

(83)

"My wife, Jean, and I run a coffee farm on the Big Island of Hawaii," writes George Fike of Keauhou Mauka, Hawaii. "I really love to cook, so we entertain a lot, and I enjoy planning the dinners as much as I do making them. I tell people the best restaurant in town is our house! Since I do most of the cooking, recipes must either be relatively fast or look after themselves."

Based on George's mother's recipe, this is an easy, moist, and tender carrot cake with delicate tropical flavors and macadamia nuts. There are a lot of ingredients, but they come together in just minutes.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Makes 12 servings

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs
3/4 cup frozen pineapple-orange juice concentrate, thawed
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 cups grated carrots
1 8 1/2-ounce can crushed pineapple in juice, well drained
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts
1 1/2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups powdered sugar

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter and flour 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan. Combine first 5 ingredients in medium bowl; whisk to blend. Using an electric mixer, beat 2 cups sugar, eggs, 1/2 cup juice concentrate, sour cream, and vegetable oil in large bowl until smooth. Beat in dry ingredients; stir in carrots, pineapple, raisins, and nuts. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake cake until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 50 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan.

    Step 2

    Combine cream cheese, butter, and remaining 1/4 cup juice concentrate in medium bowl. Beat until blended. Add powdered sugar and beat until smooth. Spread frosting over cake. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Chill until frosting sets, then cover and keep chilled.)

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