Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1 1/3 cups vegetable oil
  • 3 extra-large eggs, at room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 pound carrots, grated (see Cook's Note)
  • 1 cup raisins
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts
  • Ginger Mascarpone Frosting, recipe follows
  • Crystallized ginger (not in syrup), chopped, for garnish
  • 12 ounces Italian mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 2 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
  • 2 tablespoons heavy cream
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/3 cup minced crystallized ginger (not in syrup)
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Method

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease 2 (9-by-2-inch) round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment paper, and grease and flour the pans.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the sugar, oil, and eggs on medium-high speed for 2 minutes, until light yellow and thickened.
  • Stir in the vanilla.
  • In another bowl, sift together the 2 cups of flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt.
  • With the mixer on low, slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ones.
  • In a medium bowl, toss the carrots, raisins, walnuts, and the 1 tablespoon of flour.
  • Stir into the batter with a rubber spatula.
  • Divide the batter between the prepared pans and smooth the tops.
  • Bake for 10 minutes, lower the heat to 350 degrees F, and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool in the pans for 15 minutes, turn out onto a baking rack, and cool completely.
  • Place one cake on a flat serving plate, rounded-side down.
  • Spread half the frosting on the top (not the sides).
  • Place the second cake on top of the first cake, rounded-side up.
  • Frost just the top of the second cake.
  • Sprinkle with the ginger and serve at room temperature.
  • Note: For this episode, Ina added 1/4 cup chopped crystalized ginger to the batter.
  • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the mascarpone, cream cheese, confectioners sugar, cream, and vanilla together for about 1 minute, until light and fluffy.
  • Add the crystallized ginger and salt and beat for 30 seconds more.
  • Yield: frosts one 9-inch cake