3 Layer Carrot Cake

3 Layer Carrot Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt

1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 ¼ cups canola or other vegetable oil

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup lightly packed brown sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

4 large eggs, at room temperature

3 cups grated peeled carrots, 5 to 6 medium carrots

1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

1/2 cup raisins

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Grease three 8-inch round cake pans, line the bottom with parchment paper and then grease the sides. 
• Heat the oven to 350°
• Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl until very well blended.
• In a separate bowl, beat the oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla with electric mixer.
• Add the eggs, one at a time, beating  after each one.
• Switch to a large rubber spatula. Scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, then add the dry ingredients in three parts, gently stirring until they disappear and the batter is smooth.
• Stir in the carrots, nuts, and raisins.
• Divide the cake batter between the 3 prepared cake pans.

Before baking, check to make sure you don't have a lot of air bubbles.  If so, gently tap the pan on the counter until they are all gone.  This prevents air pockets in your cake:

• Bake until the tops of the cake layers are springy when touched and when a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes.
• Cool cakes in the pans for 15 minutes, then carefully turn the cake layers out onto cooling racks. Remove the parchment paper and cool completely. If you find that a cake layer is sticking to the bottom of the pan, leave the cake pan upside down and allow gravity to do its thing.
• 
• When cool, frost each layer and the top with cream cheese frosting (you can make your own or buy a can - which I do!). Then decorate the top.  I made little chocolate candies, using a silicone mold:

Or you can dress it up with some flowers:

This Honeymoon Pedestal Plate is no longer available however Mackenzie Childs has many cake pedestals on their website.  This is another favorite of mine: 

Flower Market Pedestal Plate: