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The Best Carrot Cake Recipes Featuring Carrot Olive Oil Cake
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It’s time to bake up a California sunshine-filled masterpiece: our carrot cake-inspired Carrot Olive Oil Cake. It has a tender, moist crumb bursting with the sweet flavor of carrots and raisins, a hint of nutty richness from almond flour and pistachios, and the fruity notes of olive oil, and warm spices. This recipe is a simple, delicious twist on classic carrot cake recipes that we know you are going to love!
What does this carrot cake recipe taste like?
This olive oil cake recipe is moist, tender, and packed with the sweet, earthy flavor of CA GROWN carrots. California olive oil adds a subtle, nutty depth, while warm spices like cinnamon and cardamom bring a cozy warmth to every bite. This is a no-fuss carrot cake recipe that’s both comforting and surprisingly sophisticated.
A Word About California Extra Virgin Olive Oil:
Want to be sure your olive oil is fresh, the highest quality, and the real deal? Look for the COOC seal on bottles of California Extra Virgin Olive Oil to make sure you’re getting delicious 100% Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Certified California EVOO uses stricter standards than international requirements, requiring the oil to pass chemical testing and a sensory analysis by a group of experts, called an organoleptic panel evaluation.
Moisture Magic: The Key to Unforgettable Carrot Cake
The hallmark of any great carrot cake recipe is its moist texture. Dryness brings the whole vibe down! Here’s how to ensure your cake stays deliciously hydrated:
- Shred like a pro. Think confetti, not chunks! Finely grated carrots mean more surface area, which means more moisture released into the batter.
- Mix smarter, not harder. Overdoing the mixing it develops the gluten, leading to a tough cake. Gently fold your ingredients until just combined.
- Olive oil to the rescue! Embrace the magical moisturizing properties of California olive oil. It adds moisture and a subtle fruity flavor that’ll make your taste buds do a happy dance.
Pro-Tips for the Perfect Carrot Cake:
- Go California dreamin’. Use CA GROWN carrots for their vibrant color and naturally sweet flavor. Because carrots from California are always in season, this is a great carrot cake recipe to make any time of the year.
- Spice things up! Don’t be afraid to experiment with different spices like ginger or a pinch of cayenne for a fiery kick.
- Toast those nuts. This intensifies their flavor and adds a delightful crunch to the cake.
- Let it rest. After baking, give your cake some time to cool completely before serving. This ensures the cake is set and the flavors have time to develop.
The Raisin Riddle: No More Sinking Ships!
Raisins have a reputation for disappearing into the depths of cake batter due to their weight. But fear not, there’s a way to keep them afloat!
Chop, chop, baby!
While some cake recipes will have you toss raisins with flour or add them towards the end of the bake time, we suggest chopping them finely along with the toasted pistachios.
When you stir the mixture into the batter with the shredded carrots, they will stay afloat instead of sinking.
California-Grown Carrot Olive Oil Cake: Your New Baking Adventure
Ready to unleash your inner baking genius? Look no further than our CA GROWN Carrot Olive Oil Cake. It features fresh carrots from the Golden State and has a unique flavor twist thanks to the addition of olive oil. This recipe is sure to become your new go-to for carrot cake cravings.
Share your favorite carrot cake recipes with us! Snap a pic and tag us on social media using #CAGROWN. Let’s see your baking masterpieces!
Craving more CA GROWN goodness? Follow us on Pinterest for fresh and fabulous recipe inspiration. We’re talking farm-to-table goodness that’ll tantalize your taste buds and nourish your body
Carrot Olive Oil Cake
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup orange juice, fresh squeezed
- ½ cup olive oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup almond flour
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 2 cups shredded carrots, about 2 carrots
- 1 cup raisins
- ⅓ cup pistachios, roasted and chopped
- ¾ tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp allspice
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp clove
- ⅛ tsp cardamom
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ (180℃). Grease a 9-inch (23 x 4cm) round cake pan or spring form pan.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the almond flour, all purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, clove, and cardamom. Set aside.
- In a single layer, spread pistachios on a sheet tray lined with parchment paper, and place in the oven to roast for about 5 minutes, or until they become fragrant and start to brown slightly.
- With a knife or food processor, chop the pistachios and raisins together into small evenly sized pieces. Set aside.
- Peel the carrots and grate them using a box grater or food processor. Set aside.
- Using a stand mixer or hand mixer, whip eggs and sugar until pale yellow and fluffy. Then mix in orange juice, olive oil, and vanilla until incorporated.
- With a spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold in the remaining dry ingredients.
- Pour mixture into the prepared cake pan and bake for 45 minutes.
- Allow the cake to cool then remove from the cake pan to serve.
Nutrition
Click here to view the Google Web Story for this recipe!
Dig into Deliciousness: Dive into More Carrot Cake Recipes Made with CA GROWN Goodness!
Did you know carrots are incredibly versatile? They can be used in so many ways beyond carrot cake recipes! Check out our healthy carrot cake-inspired smoothie for a refreshing morning boost with a carrot twist. And for those seeking a weekend baking adventure, try our Carrot Cake Scone recipe.
Carrot Raisin Walnut Scone Recipe
We have a feeling that once you’ve tried this carrot-cake-inspired scone recipe, it will be on repeat in your house! These scones are full of delicious ingredients that are always in season in California, like almonds, walnuts, carrots, and raisins. So you can indulge all year round in this delicious recipe for scones.
Click here to make this carrot cake-inspired recipe.
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
This delicious gluten-free carrot cake from A Girl Defloured is perfect for spring holidays but equally appropriate for Christmas or Thanksgiving. And don’t forget birthdays!
Click here to make this recipe for carrot cake.
Carrot Cake-inspired Smoothie
This smoothie may taste like a slice of carrot cake in a cup, but it is actually really good for you! Each sip is high in nutrition and low in refined sugar – which is what we all need in the morning, right?!
Click here for this recipe inspired by carrot cake.
Carrot Snack Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
With a mere 15 minutes of prep time, this beautiful Carrot Snack Cake from California Raisins is decadent, delicious, and requires minimal hands-on time from you.