Sunflower Seeds Carrot Cake

    I have an entire family of carrot cake lovers - not the Chinese type of carrot cake but the western version... I think I have at least five carrot cake recipes on this blog so when I came across Bill Granger's version I couldn't resist making it again. 

Most carrot cake recipes are fairly similar - consisting of carrot, raisins and nuts. Bill Granger's recipe calls for pumpkin seeds which added a lovely crunch and texture to the cake. I also liked the addition of orange zest and nutmeg which gave a spicy and citrus after taste.   

Overall, we loved this moist and delicious carrot cake recipe. It's definitely a recipe which would work well for Christmas parties. 

Bill Granger's Carrot Cake (7 inch square)

Recipe from here

• 1 1/3 cups plain flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch ground nutmeg
• 1 1/2 cups grated carrot
• 1 1/4 cups soft brown sugar (reduced to 3/4 cup and it was sweet enough for me!)
• 3 eggs
• 1 cup light flavoured cooking oil (I used 3/4 canola oil and 1/4 cup soy milk)
• 3/4 cup sultanas
• 3/4 cup chopped nuts
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• Zest of 1 orange

Ingredients

• Preheat oven to 170 degrees celcius (non fan-forced).
• Lightly grease & line a 24cm springform cake tin (8 inch) with baking paper 
• In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon & nutmeg.
• Stir in the grated carrot.
• Make a well in the centre & set aside.
• In medium bowl whisk sugar & eggs until well blended.
• Gradually whisk in the oil until well mixed & glossy
• Pour wet mix into well in dry mix & stir until just combined.
• Gently fold through the sultanas, pumpkin seeds, nuts & orange zest.
• Pour batter into prepared cake tin.
• Bake for about 1 1/4 hours (I baked for 45 mins)
• Cake is cooked when skewer comes out clean.
• Leave in tin for about 5 minutes.
• Run flat blade around the outside of the cake before undoing side of springform & turning out onto wire cake cooling rack.
• Allow to cool completely before adding desired frosting. I simply spread a layer of softened cream cheese.

I am submitting this to the "Baby Sumo's Christmas Recipes Collection 2013" event here.

This is for Cook Like A Star hosted by Zoe of Bake for Happy Kids, Baby Sumo of Eat Your Heart Out and Mich of Piece of Cake.