Carrot Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 0.5 teaspoons baking soda
• 0.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.25 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoons ground cloves
• 0.25 teaspoons ground allspice
• 0.75 cups unsalted butter , softened
• 0.25 cups vegetable oil
• 1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
• 0.75 cups white sugar
• 4 large eggs , at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup buttermilk , at room temperature
• 1.5 cups grated carrot
• 1 cup peeled and grated Granny Smith apple
• 0.75 cups raisins , Optional
• 0.75 cups chopped pecans , Optional

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 8-inch square pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.

2. 2

   Whisk flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice together in a bowl; set aside.

3. 3

   Beat butter, oil, brown sugar, and white sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat batter for an additional 2 minutes after adding last egg. Beat in vanilla extract. Pour in half of the flour mixture; mix on low speed until just combined. Pour in buttermilk; mix until just combined. Pour in remaining flour mixture; mix until just combined. Fold in carrot, apple, raisins, and pecans.

4. 4

   Divide batter evenly between the two pans. Spread into an even layer in each pan.

5. 5

   Bake in the preheated oven until the top of the cake springs back lightly when touched and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes.

6. 6

   Allow cakes to cool in pans for 20 minutes; remove to a wire rack to cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours more.

7. 7

   Beat butter in a large bowl with an electric mixer until completely smooth; beat in cream cheese until smooth and thoroughly combined. Beat in confectioners' sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing well after each addition; beat in vanilla and salt. Add in heavy cream; beat on medium-high until frosting is slightly fluffy, about 2 minutes.

8. 8

   Spread frosting onto one cooled cake layer. Stack layers; frost top and sides.