Carrot Graham Layer Cake

Ingredients

1 cup all-purpose flour 125 grams

3/4 cup graham cracker crumbs 95 grams, finely ground, plus extra for decoration if desired

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

3/4 teaspoon fine sea or table salt

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg or a bunch of gratings of fresh nutmeg

3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

3/4 cup granulated sugar 150 grams

3/4 cup dark brown sugar 145 grams

3/4 cup plus 3 tablespoons cup neutral oil or melted butter 210 grams, any oil you like to cook with, e.g., sunflower, safflower, or grape seed

3 large eggs

3 cups peeled and grated carrots about 12 3/4 ounces or 360 grams

2 8-ounce packages cream cheese, softened 455 grams total

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 sticks, 8 ounces or 230 grams

2 cups powdered sugar, sifted if lumpy 240 grams

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Equipment

oven

9-inch cake pans

parchment paper

nonstick cooking spray

large bowl

medium-sized bowl

whisk

cooling rack

electric mixer

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line three 9-inch cake pans with a fitted round of parchment paper and coat with a nonstick cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, graham crumbs, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger.

In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the sugars, oil and eggs until smooth. Stir in grated carrots.

Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir until flour just disappears.

Pour batter evenly between three prepared baking pans. Bake each layer for 15 to 18 minutes, until a tester comes out clean. Let rest in cake pans for 5 minutes, then flip cake out onto cooling rack, remove parchment paper, and allow to cool completely. You can freeze layers to firm them up.

With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and fluffy. Beat in powdered sugar, a little at a time. Beat in vanilla until combined.

Arrange first cake layer on a cake plate or stand. Spread top with frosting; repeat twice with remaining layers. Sprinkle top with extra graham crumbs if desired, and chill until serving.