Recently Whitworths asked me to take part in their #ShareTheLove campaign, challenging me to get my pinny on and share love through the power of baking!
I love this campaign as I truly believe that baking is a great way to share love, I will always bring homemade goodies instead of shop brought whenever I can. I'm sure this probably has something to do with the Millen side of the family as both my Mum & Nan are amazing bakers, Mums Crumble is 👌
So my offering for this campaign is my Christmas Carrot Cake (traditional Christmas cake is not my bag...) and I have baked this to share the love with my housemates... and to prove a point that gluten free baking isn't tasteless #ShareTheLove 😅
To be honest this was a very slapdash recipe as the one I normally use is now lost to me so I smushed a couple together and took the pieces I liked and the result was ah-mazing!
Carrot Cake
140g butter
1 cup sugar (I used coconut)
2 medium carrots
½ cup Whitworths sultanas (I sometimes leave these out, just down to preference)
2 eggs
1 cup Whitworths ground almond
1tsp cinnamon
1tsp nutmeg
1tsp GF baking powder
100g Whitworths chopped walnuts
For the Butter Cream
60g butter
1 cup icing sugar
Orange zest*
Fresh squeezed orange juice*
*to taste
Now for the baking...
1. Pre-heat the oven to 170ºc.
2. Whisk the butter and sugar until soft and creamy, then stir in the grated carrot and sultanas. Pour the eggs into the mix a little at a time.
3. Add the ground almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder and the chopped nuts, mix well (it might still look a little curdled, I was worried it might turn out like a omelette, but this is fine!). Tip the mix into the tin, then bake for 50-60 mins or until a skewer poked in the middle comes out clean, all ovens vary so this is just a guide. Allow to cool... I got impatient and put it in the fridge 🙄
4. Whilst you're waiting for it to cool, make there icing. Beat the butter in a large bowl until it is really soft, add the icing sugar and orange zest + juice, then whisk until thick and creamy. When the cake is cool, spread the icing on top. Garnish with more orange zest or crushed nuts 👌
Now I challenge you to #ShareTheLove through baking and create something you can enjoy with your friends & family. Let me know how you get on!
