Carrot Cake Recipe

This is the absolute best one I have ever eaten. I didn’t even put the cream cheese icing on it as it was so so good with just the glaze. This is a real keeper!!!

* Cake:
* 2 cups flour
* 2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 3 large eggs
* 2 cups sugar
* 3/4 cups canola oil
* 3/4 cups buttermilk
* 2 teaspoons vanilla
* 2 cups grated carrots
* 1 8 oz can crushed pineapple, drained
* 3 1/2 oz flaked coconut
* 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

* Buttermilk Glaze:
* 1 cup sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 cup buttermilk
* 1/2 cup butter
* 1 tablespoon light corn syrup
* 1 teaspoon vanilla

* Cream Cheese Frosting:
* 3/4 cup butter, softened
* 1 8oz pkg cream cheese, softened
* 1 3oz pkg cream cheese, softened
* 3 cups sifted powdered sugar
* 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions
1. Line three 9 inch round cake pans with wax paper: lightly grease and flour wax paper; set pans aside.
2. Stir together first 4 ingredients.
3. Beat eggs and next 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth; Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended.
4. Fold in carrots and next 3 ingredients.
5. Pour batter into prepared cake pans.
6. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick comes out clean in middle of cakes.
7. Buttermilk Glaze:
8. Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil in saucepan over medium high heat.
9. Boil, stirring often, 4 minutes.
10. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla.
11. Drizzle buttermilk glaze evenly over layers; cool in pans on wire racks
12. 15 minutes.
13. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks.
14. Cream Cheese Frosting:
15. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy.
16. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth.
17. Spread frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.
18. You can garnish cake top with chopped pecans or walnuts.

NOTE: I use 1 bundt cake pan and when the cake is finished baking, I use a wooden spoon and poke holes through the top and pour the glaze down through the holes. I let it set up and cool before I remove it from the pan.