Carrot Cake with Orange Grand Marnier Cream Cheese Frosting

Name: Carrot Cake with Orange Grand Marnier Cream Cheese Frosting
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 12 servings
Ingredients: 3 (9-inch) round cake pans; Electric Stand mixer 5 Qt; Pastry bag with round tip; Non stick cooking spray; 3 cups all-purpose flour; 1 tablespoon baking powder; 2 teaspoons baking soda; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 2 1/2` cups brown sugar; 1 1/2 cups vegetable oil; 6 large eggs; 2 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 tablespoon grand marnier liquor; 4 cups grated carrot; 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained and squeezed from its juice; 1 cup Chopped Pecans; 1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature; 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter; 2 cups powder sugar; 2 tablespoons grand marnier liquor; zest of 1 orange plus more for garnish

User Reviews

5.0

12 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Additional Time
1 hr
Total Time
55 mins
Servings
12 servings
Calories
785 kcal
Course
Dessert, Baked Goods, Brunch
Cuisine
American

Carrot Cake with Orange Grand Marnier Cream Cheese Frosting

Harvey Gutierrez

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This carrot cake is moist, perfectly spiced and topped with a creamy and delicious Orange Grand Marnier Cream Cheese Frosting. This is definitely the best carrot cake recipe ever!

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Ingredients

Servings

Equipment Needed

3 (9-inch) round cake pans
Electric Stand mixer 5 Qt
Pastry bag with round tip (optional)

For the Cake

Non stick cooking spray
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
2 1/2` cups brown sugar
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
6 large eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon grand marnier liquor
4 cups grated carrot
1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained and squeezed from its juice
1 cup Chopped Pecans

For the Orange Grand Marnier Cream Cheese Frosting

1 pound cream cheese, at room temperature
8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter
2 cups powder sugar
2 tablespoons grand marnier liquor
zest of 1 orange plus more for garnish

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
Spray 3 (9-inch) round baking pans with non stick cooking spray and line the bottom of the pans with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and ginger. Set aside.
In another bowl or in the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the sugar and oil just until well combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time and then the vanilla and Grand Marnier until combined.
Add in the flour mixture and stir to combine. Fold in the carrots, crushed pineapple and chopped pecans until well blended. Don't over mix the batter.
Distribute the batter evenly into 3 (9-inch) round baking pans. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 40-50 minutes or until the cake is fully set and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and cool cakes in the pans for about 1 hour.

For the Grand Marnier Cream Cheese Frosting

In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese, butter and powder sugar. Add the Grand Marnier and orange zest and mix for about 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Assemble the Cake

When completely cool, remove the cake layers from the pans. Place one layer on a cake plate. Using an offset spatula, spread a quarter of the frosting over the top of the layer, taking care to spread it all the way to the edges. Top with a cake layer and repeat with the frosting. Add the remaining cake layer and smooth the remaining frosting neatly over the top. Garnish the top with orange zest.

Notes

Use parchment paper to line the cake pans, then grease the pan including the parchment paper bottoms with cooking spray.
Use freshly grated carrots for best texture and to keep the cake moist.
Use walnuts instead of pecans, if preferred.
This cake can be made ahead of time. It usually tastes better the second day in my opinion.
For the frosting, replace Grand Marnier with orange juice, if preferred.
If you want to omit the Grand Marnier in the cake batter, simply skip it.

Nutrition Information

Show Details

Calories 785kcal (39%) Carbohydrates 97g (32%) Protein 10g (20%) Fat 40g (62%) Saturated Fat 20g (100%) Cholesterol 175mg (58%) Sodium 518mg (22%) Potassium 460mg (13%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 69g (138%) Vitamin A 8250IU (165%) Vitamin C 2.6mg (3%) Calcium 165mg (17%) Iron 2.9mg (16%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 12servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 785 kcal

% Daily Value*

Calories	785kcal	39%
Carbohydrates	97g	32%
Protein	10g	20%
Fat	40g	62%
Saturated Fat	20g	100%
Cholesterol	175mg	58%
Sodium	518mg	22%
Potassium	460mg	10%
Fiber	3g	12%
Sugar	69g	138%
Vitamin A	8250IU	165%
Vitamin C	2.6mg	3%
Calcium	165mg	17%
Iron	2.9mg	16%