Moist, Flavorful Carrot Cake Recipe

Here is my recipe for a tasty carrot cake, enjoy!

Ingredients:

Icing:
1 pkg (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened
2 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract

Cake:
2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups sugar
2 sticks butter, softened
4 large eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp pumpkin spice
2 tsp ground cinnamon
3 cups finely ground carrots
1 cup raisins
3 oz chopped walnuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F

1. In a mixing bowl, mix sugar, butter, and eggs.
2. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, pumpkin spice and cinnamon.
3. Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture and blend well.
4. Fold in carrots and chopped nuts and raisins until well blended.
5. Distribute batter evenly into 3 (9-inch) cake layer pans, which have been generously greased.
6. Place in preheated oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes. Cool layers in pans, for approximately 1 hour.

For the icing:

In a large mixing bowl combine cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla, blend well until smooth

Assembling the cake:

Place first layer, bottom side down, at center of cake stand. With a spatula, evenly spread icing on the layer. Center second layer on top of first layer with topside down. Again with a spatula, evenly spread icing on the layer. Center third layer on top of second layer with topside down. Using both hands, press firmly but gently, all layers together to get one firm cake. With spatula, spread remainder of icing to cover top and sides of cake. Refrigerated until needed.