Middle Eastern Carrot Cake Recipes

Steps:

• For the carrot cake: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-inch springform cake pan.
• In a bowl, whisk the oil, sugars, vanilla and egg together until combined.
• In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, chai masala powder, baking powder and salt until well blended. Add the dry ingredients to a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and add the carrots, nuts and dates. Turn the stand mixer on stir and gradually add the liquid ingredients until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the top of the cake is springy when touched and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Allow to cool.
• For the halwa: Add the milk, carrots, cardamom powder and saffron to a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot and bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat, then add the raisins and cook, stirring occasionally, until the milk dries up and the raw smell of the carrot disappears, another 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, add the ghee to a small saute pan over medium heat and allow to melt. Add the almonds, cashews and pistachios and stir to coat in the ghee. Allow to toast, stirring often, about 5 minutes.
• Add the paneer, toasted nuts, condensed milk and granulated sugar to the pot with the milk mixture and stir to combine. Pour the mixture onto sheet trays to cool quickly, then refrigerate to cool completely.
• For the assembly: Remove the cake from the pan and split into two layers horizontally. Put 1 cake layer back into the springform pan to help with filling the cake. Put 1 cup of the whipped cream into a pastry bag and line the rim of the cake with whipped cream. Fill the middle of the cake with the halwa. Top with the remaining cake layer, then frost the entire cake with the remaining whipped cream. Garnish the cake with the pistachio dust, edible flowers and gold leaf. Slice and serve.

Steps:

• Mix dry ingredients together in order given.
• Add cooking oil, eggs, water, and carrots; stir until well-blended.
• (Use a wooden spoon—it’s easier.).
• Add walnuts.
• Pour batter into ungreased cake or tube pan.
• Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes or until tested done.
• Dust with powdered sugar and decorate with marzipan carrots, if desired.

Steps:

• First make syrup by boiling water and sugar for about 5 to 10 minutes depending on how heavy you may want it but it shouldn't be any thicker than pancake syrup in consistency.
• *You may also add a tsp of rose water or orange blossom to it to give more of a traditional middle eastern dessert taste (I personally can do without it so that's why my recipe doesn't call for it under the ingredients).
• When done with that process set syrup aside to cool.
• Start on the Harissa by combining sugar,eggs,oil,milk,vanilla,lemon juice and mix them together until blended.
• Then add flour and baking powder to mixture and blend well.
• Lastly you want to STIR coconut into batter.
• Then its time to add to greased and floured pan (never a bundt pan)-- an oblong pan will do.
• Bake for about 30 minutes at 350°F or more until a light/medium golden brown.
• When cake is done and still hot pour syrup all over cake in pan.
• You don't have to use all the syrup but at least 3/4 should be used on the cake.
• Let cool, then cut in slanted squares.
• Then remove each piece onto a tray.
• You can garnish with a little shredded coconut on top for presentation.