Easter Carrot Cake

Make a Carrot Cake this Easter

This fabulously moist 3 tier carrot cake is super tasty. Don't worry when you look at the amount of ingredients you need; it's sooooo worth it! Follow the method step by step, take your time and you cant go wrong!
Cake prep time: 20 mins
Cake cooking time: 25 mins
Ingredients
300g Soft Light Brown Sugar
3 Eggs
300ml Sunflower Oil
300g Plain Flour
1 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Ground Cinnamon, plus extra to decorate
½ tsp Ground Ginger
½ tsp Salt
¼ tsp Vanilla Extract
300g Carrots, grated
100g Shelled Walnuts, chopped, plus extra, chopped and whole, to decorate
Carrot Cake Method
1. Preheat the oven to 170°C (325°F) Gas 3 and line three 20-cm cake tins with greaseproof paper.
2. Put the sugar, eggs and oil in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) and beat until all the ingredients are well incorporated (don’t worry if the mixture looks slightly split). Slowly add the flour, bicarbonate of soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt and vanilla extract and continue to beat until well mixed.
3. Stir in the grated carrots and walnuts by hand until they are all evenly dispersed. Pour the mixture into the prepared cake tins and smooth over with a palette knife. Bake in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and the sponge bounces back when touched. Leave the cakes to cool slightly in the tins before turning out onto a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
4. When the cakes are cold, put one on a cake stand and spread about one-quarter of the Cream Cheese Frosting over it with a palette knife. Place a second cake on top and spread another quarter of the frosting over it.
5. Top with the last cake and spread the remaining frosting over the top and sides. Finish with walnuts and a light sprinkling of cinnamon.

Cream Cheese Recipe
Ingredients:
600g Icing Sugar, sifted
100g Unsalted Butter, at room temperature
250g Cream Cheese, cold
Cream Cheese Method:
1. Beat the icing sugar and butter together in a freestanding electric mixer with a paddle attachment (or use a handheld electric whisk) on medium-slow speed until the mixture comes together and is well mixed.
2. Add the cream cheese in one go and beat until it is completely incorporated. Turn the mixer up to medium-high speed.
3. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy, at least 5 minutes. Do not overbeat, as it can quickly become runny.
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Discover Hurlingham Park, Fulham

I discovered Hurlingham Park early one Sunday morning. It is the home of Hammersmith and Fulham Rugby Football Club and is located next to the swanky Hurlingham in a leafy riverside location in Fulham. 

 In September 1954, the site became a public park on the same day as the opening meeting of the athletics track, originally made of cinder. The huge track, which has a rare 200m straight alongside where the grandstand used to be (now there is just a substantial pavilion), was last used for a race in 1979. The infield is still used for rugby and football games - it is the home of Hammersmith and Fulham Rugby Football Club - and in recent years, the field has been used once again for polo, hosting the annual Polo in the Park competition in June. Monty Pythonfans may recognise Hurlingham Park from the famous sketch "The 127th Upper Class Twit of the Year", which was filmed here back in 1969. Events in Hurlingham Park
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