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Sourdough Carrot Cake (with whipped honey cream cheese frosting)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Fermentation: 12 hours
Servings: 2 cake rounds (9 inch)
Forget everything you thought you knew about carrot cake. This long fermented sourdough carrot cake is spiced with cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg, sweetened with brown sugar, and finished with a honey cream cheese frosting that melts into every layer. Made with an active sourdough starter, olive oil, buttermilk, and Greek yogurt for the most tender, flavor-forward crumb you've ever cut into. This is the carrot cake recipe that earns a permanent spot in your rotation.
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Ingredients

FOR THE CAKE:

  • 320 g Flour
  • 120 g Olive Oil
  • 100 g Active Starter
  • 125 g Hot Water
  • 240 g Shredded Carrots
  • 3 Eggs
  • 100 g Granulated Sugar
  • 220 g Brown Sugar
  • 225 g Buttermilk or Milk
  • 40 g Greek Yogurt
  • 2 tsp Baking Soda
  • 1 tsp Baking Powder
  • 1 tbsp Ground Cinnamon
  • 1 tsp Ground Ginger
  • ½ tsp Ground Nutmeg
  • ¼ tsp Ground Cardamom
  • ½ tsp Salt
  • 10 g Vanilla

FOR THE CREAM CHEESE HONEY FROSTING:

  • 2 blocks Cream Cheese
  • 2 sticks Butter
  • 200 g Honey

Instructions

DAY ONE:

  1. Mix your flour, olive oil, active starter, and warm water thoroughly. Leave at room temperature for 12-24 hours to fully ferment. 

DAY TWO:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F. Then, add the eggs and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer. Using the whisk attachment, beat the mixture until light and fluffy. 
  2. Mix in the buttermilk, greek yogurt, carrots, and vanilla. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cardamom, salt, and baking soda. Whisk until combined. 
  3. Last, add your fermented flour mixture. Whisk until combined, starting at a low speed to avoid splashing. The batter should be smooth!
  4. Divide the batter to your greased cake pans (Recommended: (2) 9” round cake pans). Bake for 25-30 minutes, until the centers are fully set. 
  5. While your cakes cool, prepare the cream cheese honey frosting. 
  6. Add the softened butter to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until light and fluffy. Add the cream cheese and mix until combined. Finally, slowly add the honey and beat until light and fluffy. 
  7. Assemble your cake, and ENJOY!
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
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