Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake

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Hello lovelies, thank you so much for stopping by. And I have a real treat for you today, in the form of my Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake.

FF Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake incredibly delicious.

So, there is a reason for this particular cake’s title. Because I was absolutely CRAZY for attempting to make this cake last Sunday.

The Sunday Bake Club:

If you follow me on Twitter, you may well have heard of @SBC Takeover. It stands for Sunday Bake Club. Anyway, I was joining in a Tweet chat with them a few weeks ago and they asked me to join. Me?!!!

Each week they have a different theme as to what you should bake. And last Sunday it was vegetables. Yay I thought. Since carrot cake is my favourite cake in the entire universe, easy peasy. You’d think?!!!

Sliced crazy caramel cake, showing the inside.
Sliced Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake.

Since I figured, if I were going to take part, I was going to push myself. Yeah that always seems like a fun idea when you think about it – then you have to do it!!

I had a recipe-ish in mind for the cake I wanted to bake – but, it needed some adjustment. Also, this time I was going to use a Bundt tin, because, erm, it seemed like a good idea at the time. So I fiddled with the recipe, hoping I’d got the right quantities to bake my Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake in my chosen Bundt tin.

As I was making the cake, carefully photographing each stage, just in case it did work and I could share it with you lovely people, I had a thought. Always, always a dangerous activity for me.

Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake baked in a Bundt style tin.

 

Since there are Pecan nuts in the cake, it occurred to me that they’d also look nice if I used them to decorate the cake (assuming the cake turned out – literally, from its intricately designed Bundt tin). So all is good, but what was I going to ice/frost the cake with? Because I wasn’t feeling the cream cheese frosting that ALWAYS goes beautifully with carrot cake, I wanted Caramel.

Why Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake?

Confession time. I. Don’t. Like. Caramel.

Really I don’t, so I would be CRAZY to put something I don’t like, on my favourite cake, of all time, ever.

Yet, somehow, deep inside, I knew I could get it to work for me. While I know caramel and salted caramel have been done to death over the last few years, although I’d never jumped on that band wagon. Why would I? Because I don’t like caramel.

Or should I say I didn’t like caramel, until I’d made my own. I instinctively shy away from super sweet food, especially icings and frostings. Whereas, my own, homemade caramel sauce, is a gazillion miles away from the tooth aching, molten sugar of my previous caramel tastings.

Drizzled over this beautiful Bundt and adorned with toasted Pecan nuts this Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake is the perfect twist on a classic.

A Bundt sweet bake covered in caramel sauce and decorated with pecan nuts.
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake

Bundt pan dimensions are 23.5cm (9″) wide x 11cm (4.5″) deep. The pan holds 3 litres (5.3 UK pints). Alternatively you could also use a 8in (20cm) greased and lined springform cake pan, although the baking time may need adjusting.

Recipe : Serves 10 Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake

For the Cake :

200g/7oz Unsalted Butter (plus extra for greasing the tin. Alternatively use Wilton cake release and apply as shown for butter.)

260g/10oz Caster Sugar

3 Large Free Range Eggs

1tsp Vanilla Extract – I use Nielsen-Massey 

1/4tsp Salt

260g/10z Plain White Flour

2.5tsp Baking Powder

2.5tsp Cinnamon

300g/11oz Grated Carrot

50g/2oz Pecan Nuts

For the  Caramel Topping :

50g/2oz Butter

175g/6oz Light Brown Sugar

300ml/11fl oz Double Cream

1tsp Vanilla Extract

50g/2oz Pecan Nuts

Method : Preheat the oven to 180C/160C fan, gas mark 4, 350F.

Making And Baking The Carrot Cake:

First of all, before starting on the cake batter, you need to toast the pecan nuts. Since this brings out their flavour and keeps them crisp and crunchy within the cake.

In a dry pan, heat the pecan nuts, gently tossing to ensure even toasting, for five minutes. Set aside to cool.
In a dry pan, heat the pecan nuts, gently tossing to ensure even toasting, for five minutes. Set aside to cool.

 

Melt approx 1tbsp of butter and using a pastry brush, ensure the inside of the Bundt tin is completely greased.
Melt approx 1tbsp of butter and using a pastry brush, ensure the inside of the Bundt tin is completely greased.

 

To make the cake, firstly cream the butter and sugar together, until pale and fluffy.

Sift in one third of the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, vanilla extract and one egg and mix gently.

Repeat this process twice more, adding the egg before the dry mix at the last stage.

Place 50g of cooled pecan nuts, onto a board and roughly chop.
Place 50g of cooled pecan nuts, onto a board and roughly chop.
Add the grated carrot and chopped pecans to the cake batter.
Add the grated carrot and chopped pecans to the cake batter.
Gently fold in the carrot and nuts until fully incorporated within the cake batter.
Gently fold in the carrot and nuts until fully incorporated within the cake batter.
Spoon the cake batter into the tin, gently pressing down to remove any air pockets.
Spoon the cake batter into the tin, gently pressing down to remove any air pockets.

 

Place the cake in the middle of the oven and bake for 1hour.

Making The Caramel Sauce And Decorating The Cake:

While the cake is baking, make the Caramel Sauce.

Place the butter, sugar, cream and vanilla extract in a heavy based pan.
Place the butter, sugar, cream and vanilla extract in a heavy based pan.
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake swirl the ingredients over a medium heat. When the sauce is bubbling and golden brown in colour it is done!
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake swirl the ingredients over a medium heat. When the sauce is bubbling and golden brown in colour it is done!

Remember the caramel is very hot, so no dipping your finger into the saucepan!!

Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake- decant the sauce, equally, into 2 heat proof containers and set aside to cool.
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake- decant the sauce, equally, into 2 heat proof containers and set aside to cool.

 

After 1 hour of baking insert a skewer into the deepest part of the cake, if it comes out clean the cake is baked and can be removed from the oven. If not, return the cake to the oven and check at 5 minute intervals.

Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.
Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.
Once cooled turn out your Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake into a cake stand.
Once cooled turn out your Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake onto a cake stand.
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake drizzle over the cooled caramel sauce.
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake drizzle over the cooled caramel sauce.

 

You will only need half of the caramel sauce. The other half can be frozen, for up to 3 months, or kept in the fridge for a week.

crazy Caramel Carrot Cake now to decorate with pecan halves.
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake now to decorate with pecan halves.

 

A Bundt sweet bake covered in caramel sauce and decorated with pecan nuts.
Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake

Your beautiful Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake is now ready to serve!

 

Sliced crazy caramel cake, showing the inside.
Sliced Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake.

The Truth Of The Pudding Is In The Tasting:

You will have to trust me (wink), since this cake is not overly sweet. The resulting  cinnamon scented carrot cake, with hidden pecan crunch, is perfectly complimented by the delicious caramel sauce. Don’t believe me??? try this for yourself!!!

I cannot encourage you enough to make this delicious twist on a classic, Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake.

Also this cake is easily baked in an ordinary cake pan. however, if I can encourage you also to obtain a Bundt tin, your baking world will sooo benefit. All that beautiful detail and no extra effort required from the baker. That’s got to be incentive enough.

Have you ever disliked a food or flavour and then been persuaded to change your mind?

If you have enjoyed this recipe for Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake you may also like these:

Malted Marbled Chocolate Cake

FF Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake
Malted Marbled Chocolate Cake.

Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

FF Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake
Lemon Blueberry Bundt Cake

Summer Mixed Berry Sponge Cake

FF Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake
Summer Mixed Berry Sponge Cake

Stepping, actually taking a great, big, leap outside of my comfort zone really paid off. Resulting in an incredible flavour combination and beautiful cake that can also be served as a pudding, with custard, or more caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. And remember, however you serve this cake, it always tastes better when shared!

So, whatever you are making, baking and creating in your kitchens, have fun preparing and sharing your feast.

Sammie x

No part of this post may be reproduced or duplicated without the written permission of the owner. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

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Sammie

Hi, I'm Sammie and I’m passionate about creating tasty recipes, both sweet and savoury that you can make at home. Every recipe is easy and fun to make and should taste like a feast without the fuss!

12 thoughts on “Crazy Caramel Carrot Cake”

  1. WOW girlfriend! We are to much alike ..I’m not to much on frostings & caramel either. Both are to be used sparingly but my favorite cake is Carrot! Looks DELICIOUS.

    1. Thank you Bea. This is one of my favourite cakes too! A friend made it for her mum’s birthday and it was a big success. Such an honour when someone makes one of my recipes. Xx

  2. I loved your crazy caramel carrot cake as soon as I saw it on Twitter Sammie. Love the idea of the caramel & carrot combination, thanks so much for sharing the recipe x

    1. Thank you Sarah. It just shows that I should never say never! I really was pleased with the flavours in this cake, but the beauty belongs to the Bundt!! Sammie x

  3. Oh, my gosh, this is one amazing Bundt cake! I’ve always loved caramel—you are genius for pairing it with carrot cake! Well done!

    1. Thank you Liz. I get these crazy inspirations and sometimes it just works. I really enjoy creating recipes and this one was a big hit. Thank you for your generous comments. Sammie x

  4. What a triumph. Your cakes looks fabulous and sounds delicious. I adore caramel, but like you, only the homemade variety. Glad you overcame your distaste 😉

    1. Thank you Choclette. The caramel taste was a million miles away from the super sweet taste of my memory. I shall definitely be looking at how I can incorporate this delicious sauce in future recipes! Sammie

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