As with all good carrot cakes this one is moist, with a lovely firm and crunchy texture. Added to that is the warmth of ginger, which gives it a terrific flavour.
Makes: One loaf, about 10 – 12 slices
Level: Easy
Time: 30 min prep, about 55 min baking + cooling. 30 – 40 min to decorate as shown
Need: A 1kg/2lb loaf tin
Ingredients
- 140g/5oz unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for the tin
- 200g/7oz caster sugar
- 250g/9oz carrots, grated
- 100g/3½oz sultanas, raisins, currants
- 75g/2½oz stem ginger, chopped + about 25g/1oz to decorate later
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 200g/7oz self-raising flour
- 2 tsp ground ginger
- Pinch of salt
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 75g/2½oz walnuts, chopped, but not finely + a few for decorating later
For the topping (optional)
- 100g/3½oz butter, softened (or 75g/2½oz butter & 25g/1oz full fat cream cheese)
- 200g/7oz icing sugar
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 – 2 Tbsp syrup from the stem ginger
- The reserved stem ginger and walnut pieces
Method
1. Heat oven to 180°C / 160°C fan / 350°F / gas 4. Butter & line the tin with baking parchment. Leave two sides high enough to lift out the cake later.
2. Beat the butter and sugar until soft and creamy then stir in the grated carrot, dried fruit and stem ginger pieces. Pour the eggs into the mix a little at a time.
3. Sift in the flour, ground ginger, salt and baking powder. Stir in the chopped walnuts and mix it all together. Spoon the mixture into the prepared loaf tin.
4. Bake for 52-57 min or until a skewer poked in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool in the tin for 15 min then remove from the tin to cool completely on a wire rack.
5. Meanwhile, make the topping. Beat the butter (and cream cheese, if using) in a bowl until it is really soft then add the icing sugar, ground ginger and a little ginger syrup. Beat until thick and creamy, adding more syrup if it will take it without becoming runny. When the cake is cool, spread or pipe the icing on top and sprinkle with the ginger pieces and remaining chopped walnuts.
I hope you enjoy this lovely cake. If you want more loaf cake recipes click this link. Or, have a look at these below to spark your interest:
Chocolate and Orange Marbled Loaf Cake
Flourless Fruity Seed Nut Loaf
If you’d like to make a comment or ask a question please do, via the contact page, or have a look at the rest of my site for lots of other great sweet and savoury recipes.
Retired Bloke on Food n stuff 