Carrot Apple Cake

This is a very nice and moist carrot cake, just like the ones you eat in the cafe. I got the recipe from a friend ages ago and it is one of those cakes that I will bake every now and then. The lemon cream cheese frosting is a must for this cake. It gives the cake an added flair which is so mouth watering and refreshing!





Ingredients:
A) 50g roasted walnuts (optional)
150g grated carrots
1.5 cups grated apple (sprinkle 1 tsp lemon juice into it to prevent browning of the apples)

B) 280g all purpose flour
150g sugar
1.5 tsp baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon powder

C) 4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla essence
1/2 tsp salt
200ml corn oil

Frosting:
125g cream cheese (room temperature)
40g butter (room temperature)
1.5 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
2 - 3 tbsp icing sugar
70ml whipping cream
some grated lemon zest / orange zest
1 tsp gelatin powder dissolved in 1 tbsp boiling water

Some marzipan and food coloring for making the carrot decor. (optional)
Some whole walnuts for decor. (optional)

Method:
1. Prepare (A) and leave aside for use later
2. Sieve flour and add in everything in (B) together and mix well in a large mixing bowl.
3. Beat (C) in a large mixing bowl till well combined and beat in (B).
4. Stir in the grated carrots, apples and walnuts.
5. Bake in a lined pan at 180C for 45 - 65 minutes or till cooked.
6. Beat everything in the frosting together till smooth and thick, stir in the dissolved gelatin solution. Spread over completely cooled cake. Chill in fridge for 2 hours to set the frosting.

Notes:
I did not follow the exact ingredients for the frosting as it uses 2.5 cups of icing sugar, nonetheless this frosting that I concocted is very yummy too!

The marzipan carrots are sculpt by my little girl. She said it was like playing with "Play Doh".