Week 12 Carrot Cake

This week we got to bake 3 cakes. First off we had carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. This is technically not a sponge cake but the method in which it is made is like a sponge cake. The eggs and the sugar are whisked until thick and pale before slowly adding in the oil. Then the grated carrots and then the dry ingredients. It is a rather dense cake as it uses oil and there are grated carrots and sultanas in it. 

Carrot cake just out from the oven.

Creaming away in the kitchen aid.

 The second cake that we baked was the Sultana cake. This cake uses the flour batter mixing method. The butter and the flour is first creamed together and at the same time, the eggs and sugar are whisked together in a separate bowl. Then added together with the sultanas before baking.

Sultana Cake.

 The sultana cake rose up nicely and was springy to touch. Then we dusted it with icing sugar before dishing up. 

Madeira Cake, I read about this cake so many times in recipe books and also searched about it on the internet. According to wikipedia, The Madeira Cake has a firm yet light texture and is traditionally flavoured with lemon. The Madeira cake is sometimes mistakenly though to originate from the Madeira Islands, however it was instead named after the Madeira wine, which was popular in England and was often served with the cake during the 18th century. Nowadays, it is often served with a cup of tea.

Madeira Cake

All 3 cakes of the day.

 The Madeira cake was made with the sugar batter or creaming method. This is where the sugar and butter are creamed together in the stand mixer until light and pale. Then the eggs are added in gradually and finally the flour is folded in. The crack in the middle is actually intended for this cake. It does look a tad too brown. We had to cover the top of the cake with aluminium foil so that it didn't go any darker. 

 Closer look of our Madeira Cake.

We did a cream cheese frosting for the carrot cake and coated the sides with almond flakes. The top of the cake was given a rustic look with just some waves with the spatula. We made little tiny carrots with marzipan to decorate the cake. The fat carrot is mine and the slightly thinner one at the bottom belongs to my partner. No two carrots look the same, right? Can't wait to make little figurines with marzipan. 

Our completed carrot cake. 

Close up on our marzipan carrots.