I find carrot cake for Easter connection to be one of the most adorable things ever. Easter> Bunnies> Carrots. I mean it makes perfect sense right? (Although these great Easter bunnies are totally weird, but I'm quite yet take Hugo to meet!) Somehow, even without the thing Rabbit, Carrot Cake always brings to mind spring. It is really weird in many ways spices and pairings are just on par with autumn flavors. Truthfully though, I think Carrot Cake is one of those desserts that works all year round. (I mean I'll eat it any old time!)
Now when it comes to Carrot Cake, it seems that there two very distinct camps. The side that likes all the goodies in the dough like nuts, raisins and pineapple, then the types who prefer carrots and spices their cake set of carrots in a light and fluffy cake with a rich cheese cream icing. As a child, we only ate the first type. I think my mother thought that the more fruits and nuts, it could squeeze out the healthiest it all was, and frankly we were not the wisest and loved. Fast forward to when I met Andy who is a strict "no mix-ins in my Carrot Cake" type, and I guess he pulled me a little on his side. There is something quite impressive about a super simple carrot cake. soft moist cake with cream cheese frosting on each bite- nothing to take away from the texture and spices. If you are a "keep the fruits of my Carrot Cake" person this recipe is for you.
I actually uses the basic cake recipe Momofuku Cookbook milk bar. (Remember when I used to be cooking my way through!?) Well when I was doing that- we made Carrot Cake Truffles. Basically they are composed of this cake crushed and rolled into balls then dipped in white chocolate. They were amazing, but I could never forget the perfect texture of this cake before demolition. I've never tried something like that. It is so wet that it almost melts in the mouth and is so Fluffy . It is not too sweet at all, so the pair with a rich cream cheese icing is a match made in heaven. (And I'm pretty done this with equal parts cake / frosting was to die.)
Of course, if adding raisins or nuts is your thing, you can go ahead and throw a little in the dough, but I must say I am easy carrot cake converted. This one is my new favorite!