Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

[kirra]

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Neufchatel cream cheese has 1/3 less fat than regular cream cheese. It is available alongside the cream cheese in most grocery stores.

Ingredients:

Cake:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 (4-ounce) jar carrot baby food
1 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 pound carrots, peeled and shredded on the large holes of a box grater

Frosting:

1 (8-ounce) package Neufchatel cream cheese (see note), softened
1 cup marshmallow crème (such as Fluff)
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 cup confectioners’ sugar

Preparation:

Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 13- by 9-inch baking pan with cooking spray and line bottom of pan with parchment paper.

Cake:
Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt in bowl. With electric mixer on medium speed, beat eggs, baby food, and sugar until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. With mixer still running, slowly add oil and mix until thoroughly incorporated, about 1 minute. Reduce speed to low. Add flour mixture in two additions, scraping down sides of bowl as necessary, and mix until batter is nearly smooth. Using rubber spatula, fold in carrots.

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out with few dry crumbs attached, 22 to 27 minutes, rotating pan halfway through baking. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes, then invert onto wire rack. Remove parchment, flip cake right-side up, and let cool completely, about 2 hours.

Frosting:
With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese, marshmallow creme, and vanilla until well combined. Sift confectioners’ sugar over cream cheese mixture and beat on low speed until mixture is smooth, about 1 minute. Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake. Serve. Serves 15

Nutritional Info:
Calories: 280
Fat: 11 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g