This delicious moist carrot cake, from the hummingbird bakery,  is made with walnuts and orange zest and is topped with light cream cheese frosting – it’s great for an indulgent dessert or as an adult birthday cake. At Wickedfood Cooking School when we make carrot cake in our baking classes we substitute pecan nuts for walnuts.

120g chopped walnuts (or pecan nuts see above)
450g carrots, grated
3 large eggs
125ml buttermilk
1tsp vanilla extract
450g caster sugar
250ml vegetable oil
1tbsp orange zest
300g plain flour
1tsp baking soda
2tsp baking powder
1tsp salt
1tsp ground cinnamon

For the cream cheese frosting:

120g unsalted butter, softened

120g cream cheese, softened

400g icing sugar

  1. Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Lightly grease and flour a 25cm round cake tin.
  2. Toast the nuts in the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
  3. Place the carrots, buttermilk, oil, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and orange zest together in a bowl and whisk thoroughly.
  4. In another bowl whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. F

    old the flour mixture into the carrot mixture, taking care not to overmix. Fold in the toasted walnuts until evenly combined.

  5. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tin and bake for 35-45 minutes or until a cocktail stick inserted into the centre comes out clean.
  6. Leave to cool for 20 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

For the cream cheese frosting:

  1. Cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  2. Gradually add the icing sugar and continue to cream until light and fluffy, add the vanilla extract.
  3. Spread onto the top of the cake and round the sides.

Serves: 12

For more recipes by Hummingbird Bakery, click here

Wickedfood Cooking School runs cooking classes throughout the year at its purpose-built Johannesburg cooking studio. Cookery classes are run in the mornings and evenings 7 days a week (subject to a minimum of 12 people). The venue is also popular for corporate events and private functions – teambuilding cooking classes, birthdays, kitchen teas, and dinner parties with a difference.

Our cooking lessons are hands-on, where every person gets to participate in the preparation of the dishes. They are also a lot of fun where you not only learn new skills, but get to meet people with similar interests. For corporate groups and team building cooking classes these events are a novel way of creating staff interaction or entertaining clients.

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