HEART WARMING CARROT CAKE Filed under ( Cakes and Bakes, Sweets and Desserts )

Deliciously soft and moist, in fact one of the best cakes I ever made! my brother was raving about carrot cake and pressing me to make it, I just did not understand what the fuss was all about, but never the less decided to give it a shot, maybe because of my fixation for carrot halwa, I thouight it might taste somewhat familiar, though it does not taste even a wee bit like halwa but this sure has turned to be one of my favorites, and will be making it all through the cold winters, since this cake is so heart warming.

The thing here is that I used clarified butter or desi ghee as we call it here, to make this and boy! was I glad, it was sooo good, Desi ghee is a staple in all Indian households and especially here in Northern India we tend to stock it up for the winters, and a dollop is lovingly put on top of all lentils and veggies, to give it an extra special warm taste that is so good for the soul! .To make it at home- melt butter in a pan and let it bubble away gently till the residue at the bottom turns golden, cool and filter into clean jars, this clarified butter will keep for several months, I think I will be using desi ghee for a lot more baking from now on...

This cake has a lot less amount of fat than normal, I guess since the carrots are also moist and with just a subtle hint of cinnamon, very good with some Vanilla Ice cream or clotted cream, a friend at work tasted it, raved about it and said it would be even more awesome if I sandwiched a layer of icecream and did a flambe with rum on it! hmmm good idea, I still have some left :)... to make this cake u require-

• Clarified butter-3 tbsp (60 gms)


• Sugar (powdered)-1 cup


• All purpose flour-1 cup


• Baking powder-2 tsp


• Carrots (grated with the big holes side of grater)-1 and 1/2 cups


• Raisins- a handful


• Walnuts (if desired)- a handful


• Eggs-2


• Vanilla extract-1 1/2 tsp


• Cinnamon-1/4 tsp

Beat softened clarified butter and sugar together till creamy, add the eggs and vanilla essence, tip in the carrots and mix well.Combine flour and baking powder, and add to the egg mixture, next add the raisins, nuts and cinnamon.Pour into prepared cake tin, bake in preheated oven at 180 C for 45 minutes or till a skewer inserted comes out clean.