I occasionally have delusions of grandeur.

Although. I think posturing is probably the more accurate term.

(intransitive verb. behavior that is exaggerated or affected, especially as an attempt to impress or deceive others.)

That’s why I agree to do things. Crazy things. That I have no business agreeing to.

Remember the 12 weeks of winter squash? That was one. Or that New Year’s Resolution to give up storebought bread for a year? Delusion number two.

The problem is that we all have crazy ideas like this. But for most of us they are fleeting thoughts. Transient. Ephemeral. They pass in and out of existence before we even realize they were there in the first place.

Then again. Some of us. Allow our minds to run in slow motion. So that we can grab hold of them as they pass. And not let go. We make bold declarations. Jump in head-first. And don’t look back until it’s too late.

And you? You enable us. You say things like, Yes! We want 12 weeks of the same orange vegetable prepared 12 different ways! We don’t care if your skin turns orange or you start to dream in terms of varietals of butternut squash!

And then what can we do but comply?Who are we to deny the people what they want?

So when Sophie asked me if I would bake a cake for 25 people for our school president’s last official student council meeting. I conveniently “forgot” that I do not actually run a catering business. And so I said yes. I almost offered to throw in some appetizers and a three course meal as well (I swear that girl is secretly injecting adrenaline into my veins). But somehow managed to restrain myself.

So. What goes into a cake for 25 people? Funny you should ask. 18×14 inches worth of batter. 6 cups of grated carrots. 4 cups of sugar. 2 batches of Dorie Greenspan’s carrot cake recipe. An hour and a half in the oven. And a whole lot of sweat and tears.

And what made it all worth it? Was it the fact that it got rave reviews? Or produced the best cream cheese frosting that I’ve ever tasted? No.

It was the piece that Sophie so carefully coveted for me. Because what’s the point of baking a cake. If you can’t eat it, too.Dorie Greenspan’s Carrot Cake
Serves 12, adapted from Baking From My Home To Yours (I doubled this recipe to serve 25)

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3/4 tsp. salt
3 cups grated carrots
1 cup shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened – I used sweetened)
1/2 cup moist, plump raisins (I used golden)
2 cups sugar
1 cup canola or safflower oil
4 large eggs

For the frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick (8 Tbs.) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 pound (3 3/4 cups) confectioners’ sugar, sifted (I used way less than this. I used maybe a quarter of a box for double the frosting. Seriously.)
1 Tbs. fresh lemon juice or 1/2 tsp. pure lemon extract

Preheat the oven to 325° F. Butter a 9×13-inch cake pan. Flour the insides and tap out the excess.

To Make the Cake – Whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, stir together the carrots, coconut and raisins.

Working with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the sugar and oil together on medium speed until smooth. Add the eggs one by one, and continue to beat until the batter is even smoother. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture, mixing only until the dry ingredients disappear. Gently mix in the chunky ingredients. Pour the batter into the baking pan.

Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a thin knife inserted into the centers comes out clean; the cakes will have just started to come away from the sides of the pans. Transfer the cake to a cooling rack and cool for about 5 minutes, then run a knife around the sides of the cake and un-mold it. Invert and cool to room temperature right side up.

To Make the Frosting – Working with ta hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add the sugar and continue to beat until the frosting is velvety smooth. Beat in the lemon juice or extract.

Frost the cake. And decorate as desired.
This is my submission to this week’s BSI: Carrots! Which, of course, brings me to the round-up!

To start us off, we have the lovely Reeni of Cinnamon Spice and Everything Nice who creates a super healthy version of carrot banana bread. Oil-free. Refined-sugar free. The perfect recipe for those of us who want to eat our cake for breakfast. And not feel quite so guilty about it.
Indo of Daily Musings turns carrots into a celebratory meal with her Carrot Payasam/Kheer. She’s making me wish every day can be a holiday!
Sadhani of A2Z Vegetarian Cuisine really knows how to make veggies appeal to everyone…just put them into a dessert! Her carrot halwa
and carrot raisin cake would convert even the most ardent veggie hater.
PJ of Ginger and Garlic may not be sure of what to call her submission, as it is a cross between a traditional carrot halwa and her somewhat healthier version. Personally, I don’t care what she calls it as long as I get a taste…other than delicious of course!
Cool Lassi(e) of Pan Gravy Kadai Curry is my direct competitor for number one pudding lover of the world. I think we can agree to a truce though. Hopefully there is going to be enough pudding to go around. But maybe not if I get my hands on this Carrot Halwa. Because I will probably have eaten all of it before she even gets a chance.
Lynn of Queen of the Castle whips up this Pureed Vegetable Soup to use up some of the veggies she has sitting in her fridge. I, on the other hand, plan on going out and buying the veggies just so I can make this. Because it looks. So. Good.
Nithu of Nithu’s Kitchen gives us two liquid variations on carrot dishes. One can be used to warm us up during the cold days of winter – a tomato, carrot and peas soup.
And the other, carrot kheer, which would make a great summertime treat! Although judging by how creamy and delicious it sounds, I may have to make it year-round.
Azita of Turmeric and Saffron feels the way that I do about carrots…she always has them on hand and never quite knows what to do with them. Thankfully she broke out of her slump and whipped up this amazing Persian Carrot Jam!

Chaya, one of the most prolific bloggers I know brings us treats from both of her blogs. From Chaya’s Comfy Cook Blog we have this scrumptious and gluten-free carrot cake:
Which we then balance out with some pepper carrots that were featured over at Sweet and Savory Says It All.
Joanna of BakeSpace combines some of my favorite spices in these Carrot Ginger Cupcakes. Comfort food, if ever I saw it.
Debbi of Debbi Does Dinner takes the BSI challenge to a whole new level…by choosing to use her carrots as food art! Check out her post to see how she and her kids use carrots, pretzels, and marshmallows to make edible alien spaceships and campfires (among other things!).
Caronae at Run.Write.Therapy.Life is a first-time participant in the BSI, but in my opinion, she seems like an old pro because this sweet and savory carrot-apple-sweet potato omelet looks amazing!
Veronica of Recipe Rhapsody plays both good and bad angel in this round-up, submitting a delicious and totally tempting old-fashioned carrot cake
Along with this carrot, dill and white bean salad. Who says you can’t have your cake and eat it too?
Tamy of Always Eat On The Good China must know that I have a penchant for savory dishes that use cinnamon. Her Ritzy Carrot and Broccoli Casserole is definitely something that I would love.
Biz of The Biggest Diabetic Loser made the cutest Carrot Cake Muffins with Cinnamon Frosting that I’ve ever seen. The best part is…they are low fat and only 122 calories. I, personally, am really intrigued by the Greek yogurt frosting on top. Then again, I am a frosting addict.

Aqua of Served with Love likes carrots as much as the next person…as long as they’re cooked (and really who doesn’t love that roasted caramelized goodness that occurs when you throw some carrots into an oven). Her carrot raita with yogurt will really hit the spot when that root vegetable craving hits.

So there we have it! Thanks to Sophia of Burp and Slurp for offering me the hosting position! I will be updating this post with the winner tonight!

As much as I enjoyed it though. All good things must come to an end. And therefore it is time for me to pass on the torch. The next BSI host is going to be Natasha of 5 Star Foodie! Natasha has a way of using both exotic and commonplace ingredients to come up with the craziest food combinations! I can’t wait to see what her ingredient choice is for next week. Stop by tomorrow to find out!

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83 Responses to Dorie Greenspan’s Carrot Cake and the BSI Round-Up

  1. Ok was simply waiting for this post…to tell u this….

    I have 4 little suprises for u on the link below .which jus might be the last at VAnillaStrawberrySpringfields co z i’ll be moving to BSM soon….
    So do hop and see why i think u are a fantastic, creative blogger and my happy pals…cheers and so do hope u enjoy it too….

    will be back in a bit…

  2. Chef Aimee says:

    I love carrots in any form – raw, cooked, sweet savory. What a fantastic collection of carrot recipes.

  3. Dellusions of grandeur are better than dellusions of shame or fame??? neither of which u have any way :-))))

    Ha ha,u also get orders -i do too and i do wonder if my increase in invites for dinners or increase in reciept of goody bags is directly propionate to my cookie baking:-))))\

    And i still have to pick a good cookie tray too….
    U have a wonderful round up and looking foward to 5 star foodies next week

    and the cake is fantastic Jaonne-u never fail to amaze me be it ur cooking skills or time management ones:-)))
    Have a fantastic sunday-mine is almost ending…..but tomorw is a happy monday…

  4. Awesome creations with carrots! I’m looking forward to finally hosting BSI – working on my post to publish tomorrow!

  5. Mari says:

    WOW everthing looks so good! I love Carrot Cake…yours looks amazing, it looks so moist!

  6. I am impressed at the versatility of carrot but I think you are more surprised than me.

    There are some recipes that are calling to me, I, actually ran out of carrots, last week and it looks like it is going to happen again.

  7. That Carrot BSI is incredible…

    wonder if they make a carrot rum

  8. Elra says:

    Hmmm, that carrot cake really look moist and delicious. I have that book, will look into it.

  9. Shirley says:

    Great round up! Quite a few Indian dishes.

  10. Deepa says:

    great round up and love the carrot cake..looks so delicious..

  11. rulajean says:

    This is officially the first time I wished I were on MSEC.

  12. Awesome roundup!!! So many delicious recipes to try out:)

  13. Barbara says:

    Love the coconut in Dorie’s recipe! Not very common in a carrot cake. Congrats on yours and that everyone loved it. Nice job decorating, too!

    Kept thinking I would enter my carrot souffle but never got around to making it. Guess I have learned after many years not to promise what I probably won’t do! However, when a friend asks me to make something for a special occassion, I can’t say no.
    But I am sure copying some of the round-up recipes!

  14. Katerina says:

    Carrots are great and carrot cake is my second favorite cake after chocolate. It looks great

  15. Un grand panel de réalisations à la carotte.
    je sais où chercher maintenant.
    A bientôt.

  16. Kim says:

    What a great celebration of carrots!

    I also suffer from delusions of grandeur, or what my husband likes to call “overachiever’s syndrome”, although I think I like your term posturing much better.

    Your carrot cake turned out wonderful and was decorated very nicely. Like the addition of coconut in the cake.

  17. Mimi says:

    I wanted to play your little carrot game, but I’m far to lazy. :0)

    Your cake is a thing of beauty. I bet everyone loved it!!

    It’s interesting how most people went for dessert on their carrot challenge. Not a lot of savory stuff. How fun though!!

  18. Chris says:

    Damn, I bet your forearms look like Popeye The Sailor from all of the carrot shredding for that cake!

  19. Amy says:

    I totally have delusions – like when I signed up for the 365 Project (where you take a photo every single day for 365 days)…a photo diary, basically. Ya. I made it to day 10.

    I love carrots. Especially in cake. And no, there is no point in baking a cake if you don’t get a piece. That would be criminal. (25 people, you said? That’s quite a task.)

    Great round-up, of course!

  20. Baking for 25 people is no easy task. I applaud you for acing at that! That cake looks moist and wonderful.
    Lovely roundup. So many carrot dishes all in one place. Since you have baked, blogged and rounded-up all in a day’s time I will agree to a truce. 🙂

  21. Karen says:

    I’m sure the cake turned out perfectly 🙂 I don’t care much for carrot cake – I go for the frosting!

  22. Pam says:

    I succumb to lots of ideas and goals, but baking a cake for 25 would not be one of them! Good job!

  23. Faith says:

    Your cake looks incredible…I don’t know of any better use for carrots than cake. 😉 That is, until I saw this round-up! Everything looks amazing!

  24. wow what an awesome carrot round up and your cake is amazing so sweet of you to do that

  25. Pam says:

    What a scrumptious post!


  26. Kris says:

    I love that photo of the shredded carrot!!

  27. Debbi Smith says:

    I love carrot cake, I put lots of chunky things in mine like nuts and pineapple. Yum. Lots of great ideas for carrots too! Thanks!

  28. Barbara says:

    Do you mean to tell me I FINALLY made something at the right time to be in one of your events?? I am in shock. Just tell me what to do.

  29. Debinhawaii says:

    The cake looks wonderful and such a great variety of carrot dishes for BSI. I am sorry I didn’t get an entry in but I did get a combo Souper Sunday / Regional Recipes dish posted today so count me in for that one. (I’ll send you an email). 😉

  30. Your cake looks awesome! Good thing that a piece was saved for you after all that work. And what an excellent turn-out – lots of yummy carrot recipes. Thanks for including me!

  31. Azita says:

    your cake looks so moist and delicious! there are so many great ideas for carrots. thank you!

  32. carrot Cake?! CARROT CAKE?! AHHHHHHHH love.

    i WILL keep you posted! this is a new development! he’sa ucla grad student, and a VERY ACTIVE PERSON! i hope he friends me. i did give him my email address! and name!

  33. Mmm, carrot cake! Surely there is enough for me. Great round-up – never have I seen so much carroty goodness. Hmm, spellcheck does not mind carroty – it does however dispute the veracity of the word spellcheck.

  34. theUngourmet says:

    Your cake looks really moist and I like the almond slices over the frosting.

    I really have no excuse for not posting a carrot recipe. I have a huge bag of those lovely orange veggies in my fridge right now. I am just plain old lazy! All of the entries are fabulous!! Good job everyone!

  35. gaga says:

    Wow, everything looks mouth-watering. So many great uses for carrots!

  36. Caronae says:

    Ooooo thanks for posting everyone’s recipe! It’s super fun to see what everyone did with their carrots and I will definitely be trying some of the recipes, especially the baked goods, when Lent ends 🙂

  37. I adore Dorie’s recipes. This looks like a wonderful carrot cake!!!

  38. ruchikacooks says:

    Oooo…I thought it runs till 31st…Missed this 🙁 Sorry Jo..Been having issues with my page..cant hit publish..
    Will surely make something Irish..Lovely entries..

  39. Marisa says:

    This roundup could not have come at a better time – my mother-in-law handed me THREE bags of carrots on Saturday (and I already had one in the fridge). I’ve got my sights set on the halwa…

  40. grace says:

    of all the food-related tragedies out there, i think one of the most massive would be baking a marvelous carrot cake and not being able to taste it. i shudder to think. 🙂

  41. I don’t think you have delusions of grandeur; maybe you are just a people-pleaser and have a hard time with ” NO!, leave me out of it!” type-statements!
    That carrot cake looks yummy, very classic and delicious; and all the recipes at the round up look extremely good.

  42. Hannah says:

    Carrots, what a versatile ingredient! I’m with you though, I think that carrot cake is quite possibly one of their more delicious applications (as long as there’s plenty of frosting, too!)

  43. Carrot Cake Looks Gorgeous and awesome round up!

  44. Jacqueline says:

    Nice roundup! I always like discovering new blogs and as for your cake, it was definitely worth it, it looks amazing!

  45. Lo says:

    Well, I’m one who will tell you that you’re definitely NOT crazy. 🙂 Your cake looks amazing… and it sounds like you had a bit of fun doing it, despite all your doubts.

    Love the round-up… always looking for new ways with carrots, and there are quite a few good ones here!

  46. PJ says:

    how can you say delusion of grandeur but just look at what you came up with and catered so well 🙂 love that cake! so yummy and carroty.

    great round-up, Joanne, all the dishes look so delicious.

  47. Pam says:

    So much carrot goodness – the carrot cake looks mighty tasty to me.

  48. Nithu Bala says:

    Wow! yummy carrot cake..the round up is so wonderful..

  49. Mary says:

    The cake looks scrumptious and the round-up was good enough to make a gal want something other orange food to accompany her cake. You did a really nice job with the round-up. Kudos.

  50. Jagruti says:

    Fantastic round up Jo…Carrot cake looks yumm, my faviourte!!

  51. teresa says:

    fabulous post! i love all of the carrot dishes, great idea! i had fun catching up with everything you’ve been up to this week, delicious as always!

  52. Dear,
    I will certainly be sending an entry for your Irish themed event. 🙂

  53. Juliana says:

    Great carrot dishes…I like your carrot cake, with coconut…this is the first time that I’ve seen carrot cake with coconut, it is a MUST TRY!

  54. Lynn says:

    Your cake is beautiful, and so are so many of these dishes. Thanks for doing this roundup — what fun!

  55. Carrot Cake is my favorite!!! Yours looks awesome. Building a cake for 25 is a bold and scary thing to do. Takes so much time and patience! I did that for a friends Christmas party. It is fun to see everyones faces light up when they taste it. Love all those carrot recipes.
    Here is my “masterpiece”…..chocolate peppermint 🙂


  56. Gulmohar says:

    Love love carrot cake..what a lovely round up with so many yummy dishes lined up 🙂

  57. dessert girl says:

    I’m flagging this page in the cookbook right now! Love Dorie!

  58. Erica says:

    Wow! Great job everyone!!!Those dishes look delicious…I love carrots and your cake looks wonderful!

  59. Diana says:

    Whoa. This is some serious porn for a carrot cake lover like me, including the savory dishes. My love for carrot cake is second only to ice cream, my one true love. Thanks for this roundup! It could keep me busy for a while. 🙂

  60. Julie says:

    Wow, your cake came out awesome looking! Maybe you should own a catering business 🙂 (I work around doctors and think catering might be a lot more fun!)

  61. I can practically taste your carrot cake-it looks divine!

  62. oh Whoa!! you are such a carrot fan!! all the carrot-related cake is my fav. they are so easy to make and I feel less guilty eating them 🙂

  63. Martha says:

    Everything looks so wonderful! I like your cake best – but like Sophia I’m showing my favoritism. You rock Joanne! 🙂

  64. Velva says:

    Holy cow! I could eat carrots for a lifetime with these delectable dishes on display-love it!!!

    As usual, I am smiling my way through your post.

  65. Nicole, RD says:

    Flippin’ love carrots! It all sounds delicious, Joanne!

  66. yaoxu says:

    Oh mannnn that carrot cake looks delectable! I would totally trade having my skin turn orange from all the beta carotene just to have a bit of each one of these lovely treats 🙂

  67. Wooooooow all recipes looks cooool. I like your carrot cake with delicious frosting looks awesome.. i like carrot cakes very much after seeing ur cake now i want to bake one for me,,its tempting meeeee.Thanks for sharing !!! Dear.Takee Care

  68. katiez says:

    Well…. all those love carrot dishes look positively delicious…. But, I’m going back to the carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. I dearly love cream cheese frosting….

  69. Kevin says:

    Great roundup! I certainly need to take a second look at the humble carrot.

  70. Andreas says:

    Well, who doesn’t suffer some occasional self-delusions. 😉
    And one can never have enough carrot cake.

  71. who knew you could do so much with carrots.

  72. Cynthia says:

    Beautiful roundup! This cake looks absolutely divine! Great job making a cake for 25 people! I have a similar task for this friday to celebrate our monthly birthdays at work and I’m apprehensive about the results. But now I’m inspired by your success so I’ll just suck it up and do my best and eat frosting to drown my sorrows if something fails.

  73. Veronica M. says:

    Awesome cake–good job! I’m amazed at the number of submissions and they all are so creative and look so delicious!

  74. Katy ~ says:

    I love carrots; I love carrots prepared in all the ways you showed me. A divine collection from some fabulous cooks. Each one is special and delicious. Loved them all. Thanks to all who participated and shared and gave me new choices!

    And whew on the cake!!! Well done. You are awesome!

  75. msmeanie says:

    Great roundup! I love carrots. I have been dying Dories carrot cake recipe for a while, and it does look great. Love the almond topping!

  76. just stopping by to say hello, since I have been MIA 🙂 hope you are well, and school is great…your cake looks fab, I love carrot cake!!

  77. Michelle says:

    I love this roundup and I love just about anything carrot or parsnip too!

  78. Danielle says:

    Ok…I have to stop!! I’m so hungry now I can’t stand it. LOVE carrot cake…especially cuz of the frosting. Everything here just looks so darned good!


  80. Just another shining example of why you’re the sweetest blogger I know and a kickass baker. Love the round-up — pretty sure I won’t need another resource for carrot recipes for a good year.

  81. That's Ron says:

    hey tq for dropping by n the compliment… do come by n follow my blog when u get time! yeah japan is a beautiful place…

    ps.. ur blog makes me hungry!

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