Time For A Treat: Paula Deen’s Best Ever Carrot Cake

I'm not sure that I knew that I even liked carrot cake, but after watching Paula making this last week (while I was suffering on the treadmill. . . ), I just had to try it.  (Do you think she'd adopt me?  And did you know she uses Publix brand powdered sugar?)

Sorry to ramble . . . but oh my goodness, this is some heaven-sent cake!  Just one little warning though:  this is a three-layer cake.  Do not try to stuff it into two layers like I did because it won't work!  (Well, it will, but you'll have to give it a little extra tlc in the end!)

Here's how to make this divine Carrot Cake . . . if you try it, you have to come back and tell me about it because I can't wait to hear what you think!

Paula Deen's Grandma Hier's Carrot Cake

Ingredients

1. Butter, for pans
2. 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans
3. 2 cups sugar
4. 2 teaspoons baking soda
5. 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
6. 1 teaspoon salt
7. 4 eggs
8. 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
9. 3 cups grated carrots
10. 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, optional  

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350.  Grease & flour three 9 inch pans (Sister Schubert Roll pans work great if you don't have enough pans around your house!)
2. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper I skipped this step, however they were a little difficult to get out of the pans.  They did come out, but the parchment paper would have helped!
3. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.  Add eggs and vegetable oil.  Blend until combined.
4. Add carrots and pecans (pecans optional).
5. Pour into pans.  Bake for 40 minutes.  Cool for 4 minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely.
6. Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting (see below)

Cream Cheese Frosting

1. 2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature 
2. 1 stick salted butter, room temperature
3. 1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar
4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5. 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Mix all ingredients except the nuts into a medium bowl & beat until fluffy with a mixter.  Stir in the nuts.  Spread over each cake layer.  Stack the cakes and serve . . . yummmmmm!

Recipe from Paula Deen at Food Network.  Thanks to I Heart Publix for the coupon matchups, and check out $5 Dinner Mom for more bargain meal deals!  If you need a little more menu inspiration, check out the Recipe Index.  Join Passionate Penny Pincher on Facebook to keep up with all the meals & deals.