Blue Ribbon Carrot Cake

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 extra large eggs
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3/4 cup buttermilk
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 (8 ounce) can unsweetened crushed canned pineapple, drained
• 2 cups carrots, grated
• 3/4 cup shredded coconut
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 tablespoon corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 -1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon orange juice (optional)
• 1 teaspoon orange zest (optional)

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350°f generously grease a 9x13 baking dish or two 9 inches cake pans.
• 2 sift flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together; set aside.
• 3 in a large bowl, beat eggs. add oil, buttermilk, sugar and vanilla; mix well.
• 4 add flour mixture to the egg mixture; blend. then add pineapple, carrots, coconut, and nuts; stir well.
• 5 pour batter into prepared baking dish or pans. bake about 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean.
• 6 while cake is baking, prepare buttermilk glaze: in a large saucepan, combine sugar, baking soda, buttermilk, butter and corn syrup; bring to a boil. lower the heat to simmer and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. glaze will be a caramel color. remove from heat and stir in vanilla. note: a large saucepan is needed because mixture will expand after coming to a boil. it will simmer down after a couple of minutes of cooking.
• 7 once cake is done, remove cake from oven and poke holes in hot cake with a fork or meat fork. slowly pour buttermilk glaze over hot cake. cool cake in pan until glaze is totally absorbed, about 15 minutes. turn out of pan, if desired.
• 8 cool cake completely. prepare cream cheese frosting: cream butter and cream cheese until fluffy. add remaining ingredients. mix till smooth. frost cooled cake. chill till frosting is set. serve chilled.