How To Make Moist Carrot Cake With Kiano • Tasty

Summary

In this video, Keanu shares his recipe for the most moist and flavorful carrot cake. He emphasizes the importance of finely grating the carrots and balancing baking powder and soda to achieve the perfect texture. Keanu adds a secret ingredient—crushed pineapples—to enhance sweetness, moisture, and flavor. He carefully explains how to mix the ingredients and assemble the layers for a visually stunning three-layer cake. The final touch is a smooth cream cheese frosting, complemented by a nut-covered exterior. Keanu offers tips for a perfect presentation, ensuring the cake is ideal for any celebration or casual gathering.

Takeaways

• 😀 Grating carrots by hand using a box grater ensures they are finely shredded and evenly distributed in the cake batter.
• 😀 A combination of baking powder and baking soda is used to help the cake rise, but too much baking soda can cause the carrots to turn green.
• 😀 Sugar is considered a wet ingredient in baking, which often confuses people.
• 😀 To avoid overmixing, oil should be drizzled in slowly, allowing it to emulsify into the batter without creating a fluffy texture.
• 😀 Flour should be added in thirds to the wet ingredients, mixing a bit after each addition for even distribution.
• 😀 Tossing raisins with a tablespoon of flour helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake during baking.
• 😀 Crushed pineapples are a secret ingredient that adds moisture, sweetness, and a slight acidity to the cake, along with an enzyme that breaks down protein.
• 😀 The cake batter can be divided into three 8-inch cake pans for a layered cake or baked as a sheet cake for a single-layer option.
• 😀 For smooth and even icing, butter and cream cheese should be at room temperature, and powdered sugar should be added gradually, half a cup at a time.
• 😀 When decorating, use a serrated knife to level the tops of the cakes, ensuring a flat and even surface for icing.
• 😀 The final layer of the cake should be placed upside down to ensure a perfectly flat top, which helps when icing.
• 😀 Crumbs on the sides of the cake can be covered by pressing chopped nuts into the icing for a no-fuss, polished look.

Q & A

Why is it important to use a box grater for the carrots in this carrot cake recipe?

Using a box grater ensures the carrots are finely shredded, which helps them to be evenly distributed throughout the cake. This contributes to a smoother texture and ensures the flavor is consistent.

What is the role of molasses and brown sugar in the carrot cake batter?

Molasses and brown sugar provide a deeper, richer sweetness to the cake, while also weighing it down, which helps create a dense and moist texture.

Why does the recipe suggest adding oil slowly instead of all at once?

Adding oil slowly allows it to emulsify properly with the other wet ingredients. This prevents the mixture from becoming too oily and ensures a smoother batter.

What is the purpose of adding flour to the raisins before mixing them into the batter?

Coating the raisins with flour helps to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the cake during baking, ensuring they stay evenly distributed throughout the batter.

What makes pineapple a secret ingredient in the carrot cake recipe?

Pineapple adds both sweetness and moisture to the cake. Additionally, it contains an enzyme that helps break down proteins, contributing to a softer, more tender cake.

How does using three 8-inch cake pans affect the final carrot cake?

Using three 8-inch pans allows for a three-layer cake, which not only looks more elegant but also results in a more balanced ratio of cake to frosting, making it more enjoyable to eat.

What is the importance of butter and cream cheese being at room temperature for the icing?

Room temperature butter and cream cheese mix together more smoothly, allowing for a creamy, well-incorporated icing. Cold ingredients can cause the mixture to be lumpy or difficult to blend.

Why is it suggested to add sugar to the icing in increments of half a cup?

Adding sugar slowly helps prevent the icing from becoming too thick too quickly. It also allows you to taste and adjust the sweetness to your personal preference.

What is the reason for leveling the cake layers with a serrated knife?

Leveling the cake layers ensures they are flat, which makes it easier to stack the layers evenly. This results in a more visually appealing and stable cake.

Why should the frosted cake be refrigerated before serving?

Refrigerating the cake allows the icing to set, ensuring that it won't be too soft or wobbly when sliced. It helps the cake maintain its shape and makes it easier to cut.