Ingredients
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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1 1/2 cups sugar
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1 1/2 tsp baking soda
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2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
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3/4 tsp salt
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3 large eggs, room temperature
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3/4 cup canola oil
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3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
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2 tsp vanilla extract
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2 large carrots, peeled and coarsely grated (about 2 1/2 cups)
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1 1/2 cups finely chopped pecans or walnuts, divided
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1 1/2 (16 oz) containers cream cheese frosting
Steps
1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 2 (8-inch) cake pans.
2
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, oil, buttermilk, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients into dry, stirring just until combined. Fold in the grated carrots and 1 cup nuts. Divide the batter evenly between prepared pans.
3
Bake 30–35 min., until a toothpick inserted in the cake’s center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 15 min. Remove from pans and cool completely on wire racks.
4
Arrange 1 layer on cake plate. Spread 1 cup frosting on top. Top with second layer. Frost top and sides of cake with remaining frosting. Decorate top of cake with remaining ½ cup nuts.
Tips
Use orange and green cookie icing to draw carrots on the top of cake.
