Enhance your carrot cake with a luxurious twist by adding a cardamom spiced white chocolate cream cheese icing. This recipe combines the natural sweetness of carrots with the rich, creamy flavor of cream cheese and a hint of cardamom for an unforgettable taste experience.
#### Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- ⅛ tsp ground cloves
- 4 medium-sized carrots, peeled and grated
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
#### Cream Cheese Icing Ingredients
- 16 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
- 10 oz white chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
### Step-by-Step Guide
#### Preparing the Cake Batter
1. **Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan**:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Grease a 9x13-inch baking pan with butter or cooking spray.
2. **Mix Dry Ingredients**:
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, ginger, and cloves until well combined.
3. **Combine Wet Ingredients**:
- In another large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter and sugar using an electric mixer on medium speed for about 2-3 minutes.
- Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla extract.
4. **Blend Dry and Wet Ingredients**:
- Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, alternating with grated carrots. Mix until just combined.
5. **Add Cardamom**:
- Stir in ground cardamom gently.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.
6. **Bake and Cool**:
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
#### Making the Cream Cheese Icing
1. **Melt White Chocolate**:
- Place white chocolate chips and butter in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water (double boiler method).
- Stir until melted and smooth, about 5-7 minutes.
2. **Beat Cream Cheese**:
- In the meantime, beat cream cheese and vanilla extract with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 3-4 minutes or until creamy.
3. **Combine Ingredients**:
- Gradually add the warm white chocolate mixture to the cream cheese while continuing to mix.
4. **Frosting Consistency**:
- If needed, chill the icing in the refrigerator briefly if it's too soft for spreading.
- Once cooled slightly, spread evenly over the cooled cake.
5. **Decorate (Optional)**:
- Garnish with additional chopped white chocolate or carrot shavings for a decorative finish.
#### Storage
- Store any leftover frosting tightly covered at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Bring it back to room temperature before using again.
### Conclusion
This cardamom spiced carrot cake with white chocolate cream cheese icing is perfect for special occasions and can be customized further by adding nuts, sprinkles, or even more spices. Enjoy this delightful treat with your family and friends!