by Bill Whitney

Created on: October 20, 2007   Last Updated: December 09, 2010

Have you ever gone on the Internet and typed in chocolate cake recipes? There are a million recipes out there for chocolate cakes and there isn't such a thing as a bad chocolate cake. Some are better than others but any chocolate cake, unless it is burnt or something, is good. Carrot cake is good and so is chocolate cake so why not make a chocolate carrot cake? This is one of my family's, and especially my granddaughter's, favorite cakes. My mother used to make a sour cream chocolate cake that I loved but this is as good as any chocolate cake I have had in a long time.

CHOCOLATE CARROT CAKE

2 cups flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup salad oil
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup cocoa
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
4 eggs

I cup chopped pecans

2 cups shredded carrots
1 4oz package shredded coconut
Orange Glaze

In a large bowl, mix at low speed the first ten ingredients. Mix until well blended, scraping often. Increase speed to high for 2 minutes. Stir in carrots and coconut. Spoon into a greased and floured pan. Bake at 350 F for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire rack about 10-15 minutes and remove from the pan. Pour orange glaze over the cake.

ORANGE GLAZE

1 cup powdered sugar
3 tbsp frozen orange juice concentrate

Combine the ingredients, add orange juice a few drops at a time to get the consistency you want in the glaze. If it gets too runny add more powdered sugar.

I really can't imagine a cake that would be much better than a chocolate carrot cake with an orange glaze over the top of it. You get your sweets, your yellow vegetable and your fruit all in one delicious package.

This is good cake and is excellent with a cold glass of milk.

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