Carrot Cake with Toasted Coconut Cream Cheese Frosting

CATEGORY WINNER

Desserts

"I grind oats with flour in a food processor to make this cake more nutritious, and use only 1/4 cup canola oil and pureed baby food carrots to make it moist. This cake keeps for up to three days in the refrigerator and also freezes well." —Christine Dohlmar, Valrico, Florida

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: 1 piece)

Ingredients

• Cake:
• 3/4  cup  all-purpose flour (about 3 1/3 ounces)
• 1/4  cup  quick-cooking oats
• 1 1/2  teaspoons  ground cinnamon
• 1  teaspoon  baking powder
• 1/2  teaspoon  baking soda
• 1/4  teaspoon  salt
• 1  cup  granulated sugar
• 1/4  cup  canola oil
• 1  (2 1/2-ounce) jar carrot baby food
• 2  large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 1/4  cups  finely grated carrot (about 4 ounces)
• 1/2  cup  golden raisins
• Cooking spray
• 
  Frosting:
• 1/3  cup  (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 1  tablespoon  butter, softened
• 1 1/4  cups  powdered sugar, sifted
• 1/2  teaspoon  vanilla extract
• 1/4  cup  flaked sweetened coconut, toasted

Preparation

Preheat oven to 325°.

To prepare cake, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 5 ingredients (through salt) in a food processor; pulse 6 times or until well blended. Place flour mixture in a large bowl. Combine granulated sugar, canola oil, baby food, and eggs; stir with a whisk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moist. Stir in grated carrot and raisins. Spoon batter into an 8-inch square baking pan coated with cooking spray.

Bake at 325° for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.

To prepare frosting, combine cheese and butter in a large bowl. Beat with a mixer at high speed until creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beating at low speed until smooth (do not overbeat). Spread over cake; sprinkle with coconut. Cover and chill.

Nutritional Information

Calories:

262 (30% from fat)

Fat:

8.8g (sat 2.7g,mono 3.6g,poly 1.6g)

Protein:

3.2g

Carbohydrate:

44.1g

Fiber:

1.2g

Cholesterol:

44mg

Iron:

0.9mg

Sodium:

201mg

Calcium:

47mg