Carrot Cake with Mincemeat

[dem in texas]

We often eat at a small family owned steak house in our neighborhood. They have excellent desserts and we usually buy a piece of cake and split it between the two of us. I am not a big carrot cake fan, but one day we decided to their carrot cake. It was excellent, moist with a rich spice flavor. Their carrot cake become one of my favorites. Last time we ate there, we were sharing the carrot cake and I was enjoying the flavor when it dawned on me, that it had mincemeat in it, that was what made it so moist and flavorful.

When I got home, I looked in my favorite cookbooks and did not see a recipe for a carrot mincemeat cake, so I turned to the internet and found several. I printed out one that sounded good to me. I am going to try the recipe tomorrow. I will let you know how it turns out. I have tried recipes from the internet before and most are successful, but every once in a while I will try one that bombs.

[polly7]

1. Oh, yumm!!!

I love carrot cake and that goes double for mincemeat. Never thought to try them together, it sounds delicious.

I'll have to look up the recipe too. Good luck with your cake!

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. and mincemeat season is just around the corner!

I love mincemeat....and carrot cake...

Please share any workable recipe.....drool.

[japple]

3. Two of my favorites. Please let us know how the cake turns out

and be sure to share the recipe. Thanks for volunteering to bake the test cake!!!

[dem in texas]

4. Baked the carrot mincemeat cake

I have been super busy and didn't get to make the cake until last night. I used a recipe from the internet called Golden Carrot cake. I liked the taste of the cake, but two things I did not like, it called for the cake to be baked in a bundt pan and I have to take out a rack in my oven so the pan will fit, this made the cake bake at a lower level in the oven which caused the bottom to be dry. The other thing I didn't like was it called for an orange glaze. The glaze was far too wimpy for the strong taste of the cake.

I am going to try it again, this time in a sheet cake pan (and maybe a little higher baking temperature. I am also going to make a more substantial frosting. The recipe also called for grated orange peel in the cake batter and this was a good touch. The glaze called for orange juice, butter and powdered sugar, it needed more, especially some lemon juice.

I would rate the cake good, but not excellent. But with a few simple nips and tucks, it will make an outstanding cake. I will post the recipe I am using when I finish fooling around with it.

[dem in texas]

5. Baked the carrot cake with mincemeat again today

Finally got around to making the Carrot-Mincemeat cake again. This time baked it in a sheet cake pan (I have one of those non-stick sheet cake pans that has a plastic lid for covering). I made my own frosting and the recipe is below. Much better in the sheet cake pan with the creamy frosting. Adding lemon juice to the frosting cuts the sweetness of the powdered sugar.

Golden Carrot Cake - (Revised Recipe)

1 (9 oz.) pkg. condensed mincemeat crumbled
2 c. finely shredded carrots
1/2 c. chopped nuts
2 tsp. grated orange rind
2 c. flour (divided use)
1 c. firmly packed light brown sugar
3/4 c. vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl combine mincemeat,
carrots, nuts and rind. Toss with 1/2 cup flour and set aside.

In a larger mixer bowl combine sugar and oil; mix well. Add
eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift together remaining 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda
salt and cinnamon; add to batter, beating until smooth. Stir in mincemeat mixture.

Turn into well greased and floured sheet cake pan. Bake 30-35
minutes (or until springs back when touched on top). Let cake cool thoroughly in pan before frosting.

Lemon-Orange Butter Cream Frosting

3/4 stick of butter - softened
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar
Juice of one lemon
Juice of half small orange
1 teaspoon grated orange rind

Beat all together, should be creamy but not stiff, (should hold soft peak). If stiff, add a little more juice, it too thin, all a little more powdered sugar. Spread frosting on cooled cake.

[japple]

6. This cake recipe with your revisions sounds like a real winner. I've

copied/saved it for later. That frosting is making me drool. Thanks for posting.