Saturday, March 13, 2010

Carrot Cake with Fresh Orange Cream Cheese Frosting (sms)


My third recipe baked from the book THE SWEET MELISSA BAKING BOOK

Carrot Cake with Fresh Orange Cream Cheese Frosting

Stop by Julie’s blog A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING for the recipe.

I really enjoyed the taste of the cake. I was surprised how good it was...especially since it was missing the traditional components to a Carrot Cake...namely, the pineapple and coconut.

The frosting (for me) was a disappointment. I did not warm up to the orange zest in the frosting...I wish I had left it out...it's just what I prefer. For others it's a wonderful addition.

Differences...that's what makes the world go round!

Instead of making a layer cake, I decided to make mini-cakes and a mini carrot shaped cake. Here are FOUR VARIATIONS I created.


Mini Trifle Carrot Cake
Whip Cream and Cream Cheese Frosting is layered between pieces of Carrot Cake.

Mini Two-Layer Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake layered with Cream Cheese Frosting


Mini Two-Layered Frosted Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting covered with Walnuts


Mini Carrot Cake Stick
Carrot Cake Shape with Cream Cheese Frosting covered with Walnuts


It was very delicious and moist!



What’s Up Lately?

This past week I went to New York City and visited


The French Culinary Institute.



I was given a tour of this wonderful school. I’m tossing around the idea of attending FCI.
Gosh, if the price tag wasn’t so darn high, I would have enrolled already! Anyway, enjoy the photos…


As I waited for my tour, I took a few shots of the street from the window...here's one.


Check out this industrial stove! Love it!


I'm in love..I want that convection oven!


Kitchen Aid mixers...I've got one of these!
I also have the pasta attachement to make fresh pasta.


L’Ecole Restaurant
L’Ecole is where students of The French Culinary Institute’s Classic Culinary Arts Career Program impress guests with their cooking on a daily basis.


Don’t forget to visit the other Sweet Melissa Sundays Bakers’ creations on this recipe.


Peace in Baking,


Carmen

Baking is my Zen…sweet nibbles for the soul

20 comments:

Nina said...

Your 4 different styles of carrot cake are so cute! I especially love the carrot looking one. So creative!

Katiecakes said...

Super adorable cakes!

In England a carrot cake containing nuts and pineapple is called a hummingbird cake :)

Katie xox

Donna said...

Hi, I love the carrot shaped cake, very cute!

Candy said...

I love all of your variations! You are so creative!

Julie said...

Love, love, love all of the carrot cakes you made! I so wanted to bake this as a mini but since I was hosting, I decided to stick with the recipe as written!!!

Thanks for baking with me this week!

Flourchild said...

Wow what fun things you did with this recipe..I love them all especially the carrot shaped cake..to cute! Im glad you enjoyed this recipe. It looks like you had fun with it!
Your NYC shopping day photos are great too, thanks for sharing.

Chats the Comfy Cook said...

I love your different choices. I can't pick just one.

Unknown said...

Wow, you really outdid yourself! I love all of your creations. This cake was a big hit here - definitely among my favorite SMS recipes.

Thanks for sharing your NY photos. I'd love to visit the French Culinary Institute!

Suwandi said...

my favourite is the double layer one, looks really enticing! enjoy your culinary course and am sure with your passion you'll achieve outstanding result!

k.a.r.e.n said...

You are hard core!!! Four different versions?!?!?!? *faints*

Awesome job -- everything looks beautiful!

Susan said...

Oh my goodness! Each one of your cakes is cuter than the next one! You are so talented!! Love them all!!

Thanks for the great pictures of the Institute. I would love to visit there one day.

Jaime said...

wow love all your variations...but my favorite is the one shaped like a carrot! :) let me know how you like the pastry queen recipe - every i know who has tried it, loves it, so i hope you do too!

Stephanie said...

mini carrot shaped cake - too too cute!!!!

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

Love the carrot shaped carrot cake. Makes perfect sense. BTW, even though there's tons of fancy cakes out there, old-fashioned carrot cake with cream cheese frosting is possibly my favorite.

Erica said...

Wow! They all look beautiful!I love carrot cake :)

Hanaâ said...

Wow, you've been busy! Love the different variations you've created. Good luck on your culinary adventure. Sounds like tons of fun!

Mary Bergfeld said...

The cake looks fabulous and FCI can't be beat. I participated in a competition that was held there about 5 years ago. It's a fabulous place.

margot said...

All four of your variations look amazing!

Good luck on your decision to go to culinary school. I ate at L’Ecole when I went to New York a couple years ago and it was great.

Tessa said...

I'm pretty new to SMS too. Love the carrot-shaped cake. That is too adorable. Thanks for baking with us!

Melanie said...

What a fun trip to the culinary institute. And I love the idea of a carrot cake trifle. How lovely!

DO NOT USE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT PERMISSION

ALL PHOTOGRAPHY (UNLESS INDICATED) IN THIS BLOG BELONGS TO CARMEN ORTIZ OF BAKING IS MY ZEN.

PLEASE DO NOT USE MY PHOTOGRAPHY WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.

Thank You.

~ Carmen Ortiz - blogger (Baking is my Zen)