I have baked a lot of cakes in my time but this one has become my all time favourite. Its a recipe from Leila Lindholm.

 

Ingredients

• 3 eggs
• 270g caster sugar
• 180g plain flour
• 1 tsp vanilla sugar ( I use vanilla paste)
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground cardamom
• 2 tsp ground ginger
• 150ml  sunflower oil
• 450g grated carrots
• 100g walnuts chopped
• whole walnuts for decoration

Cream Cheese Lime Frosting

• 65g soft butter
• 300g icing sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla sugar
• zest of 1 lime
• 100g cream cheese

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 175 Dec C.

2. Beat the eggs and the sugar until pale and fluffy.

3. Mix together the dry ingredients and fold into the egg mixture.

4. Stir in the oil, carrots and coarsely chopped walnuts.

5.  Put paper cases in a muffin tin and pour in the mixture until the cases are tow-thirds full.

6. Bake in the centre  of the oven for 12-15 mins. Leave to cool.

7. Make the frosting by mixing together the ingredients until creamy.

8. Spread the frosting on top of the cupcakes and decorate each one with a  whole walnut.