Easter Carrot Cake

Today I want to show you how to make a Carrot Cake with cream cheese frosting, orange curd filling and easy marshmallow fondant décor. This carrot cake makes a fun and festive Easter dessert.

Ingredients for the cake:

3 eggs
100g sugar
100g brown sugar
120 ml vegetable oil
220g unsweetened applesauce
300g grated carrots
100g roasted chopped walnuts
200g all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp allspice seasoning
2 tsp vanilla extract
Zest of 1 orange (optional)

Ingredients for the orange curd filling:

250 ml freshly squeezed orange juice
1 egg yolk
1 whole egg
75g sugar
15g cornstarch
60g butter
Zest of 1 orange

Ingredients for the cream cheese frosting:

600g cream cheese (at room temperature)
250g softened butter
150g powdered sugar
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 tbsp lemon juice (optional)

Ingredients for the marshmallow fondant:

100g marshmallows
+/-100g powdered sugar
1 tsp butter
1 tbsp lemon juice
Gel food coloring

Step 1

In a large mixing bowl combine the eggs, salt and sugar. Using a hand mixer beat all together until light and fluffy.

Step 2

Add the vegetable oil, applesauce, vanilla extract and give it a quick whisk.

Step 3

Next, sift in the flour, baking soda, baking powder and spices. Using a hand mixer whisk the cake batter again.

Step 4

Add the carrots, chopped walnuts and stir all together with a spatula. Divide the cake batter into three portions. I used a kitchen scale to make sure that the cake batter is evenly divided.

Step 5

I will bake the cake in an 8-inch baking springform bottom of which I covered with parchment paper. Transfer the first portion of cake batter into a prepared baking form, spread it evenly with a spatula and bake at 350 F degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the skewer inserted into the cake comes out dry. Let the cake cool in the baking pan for about 5 minute or so, then run a knife between the cake and the baking pan. Take the ring part off, invert the cake and carefully take off the parchment paper from the bottom. Let the cake cool down.

Step 6

Repeat the process with the rest of the cake batter. You can bake the cake layers a couple of days in advance, tightly cover them in plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until assembling the cake.

*Each cake layer turned out approximately half an inch thick. If you prefer thicker cake layers, you can double the cake ingredients to make a thick 8-inch cake layers or you can use 6-inch cake pan. Anyway, the baking time will change.

Step 7

In a heavy-bottomed saucepan combine the orange juice, egg yolk, the whole egg, sugar with orange zest and cornstarch. Whisk all together to combine the ingredients. Place the saucepan over medium-low heat and add the butter.

Step 8

Cook until thick, while constantly stirring, so no lumps form. To check the readiness of the curd, dip a spoon or spatula into the custard, then run your finger through it. If the line stays, the mixture has properly thickened. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the curd into a prepared piping bag. Let it cool to room temperature and chill in the fridge.

Step 9

To decorate my cake, I decided to make these cute carrots and the back part of rabbits using homemade fondant.

In a mixing bowl combine the marshmallows, butter and lemon juice. Start by microwaving all the ingredients for 20 seconds (or 10 seconds if at a high temperature) then take the bowl out and give it a stir. Place the bowl back in the microwave and repeat the process of cooking for another 20 seconds or until the marshmallows have melted.

Step 10

Next, sift in about half of the powdered sugar. Start mixing with a spatula to combine the ingredients. When the mixing become too hard, dust the work surface with more powdered sugar and transfer the fondant on top. Start kneading the fondant, adding more powdered sugar as needed. Ready fondant will be slightly sticky and very elastic.

Step 11

Divide the fondant into three pieces. One piece will stay white. Cover it with a plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out. Using an orange gel food coloring, color the biggest piece of the fondant. Just add one drop of the color and knead the fondant until colored evenly. Add more powdered sugar, if needed. Don’t forget to cover it with a plastic wrap.

Using green gel food coloring, color the smallest piece of the fondant.

*Homemade marshmallow fondant can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to a month.

Step 12

I’m not a great sculptor, so forgive me for the primitive figures. The idea is to make the back part of the bunny look like they are sticking out of the ground. So, I made a pear-shaped body with a tail and hind legs. I also made carrots for my cake garden. Part of the carrots will stick out of the ground and other part of the carrots will be already on the ground. Watch my video to better understand how to mold the figures.

*It’s very easy to work with this fondant and sticking the pieces together.

Step 13

The last piece of the cake is the cream cheese frosting. In a large mixing bowl place, the butter and powdered sugar. Mix a little with a spatula. Using a hand mixer beat the butter until light and fluffy.

Step 14

Scrape the sides of the bowl, add the cream cheese, vanilla extract, lemon juice and on the lowest speed of your mixer combine all the ingredients. Don’t overbeat the cream cheese frosting or it will get grainy. For your convenience, transfer the frosting into a pastry bag.

Step 15

Finally let’s assemble the cake. Place the first cake layer on the cake board or a serving plate and cover it with a thin layer of cream cheese frosting. Pipe a border along the outside edge of the cake, then fill it in with a half of the orange filling. Spread it evenly. Repeat the process with the second cake layer.

Step 16

Spread a thin layer of frosting on top and sides of the cake, then refrigerated for 30 minutes. Add a couple drops of orange gel food coloring into the rest of the cream cheese frosting and mix well. Transfer the orange frosting into a piping bag.

Step 17

Pipe the cream cheese frosting on the side and the top of the cake. Using a cake spatula make vertical or horizontal lines to give some texture.

Step 18

Sprinkle Oreo cookie crumbs on top of the cake to simulate dirt. Add the bunnies and carrots on top. I also used edible grass for cakes which luckily, I had in the freezer. I already have a post on my blog on how to make it, so just go ahead and read it here.

My cake is ready and I’m very happy with the result! Please, tell me in the comment area below what you think about my cake?
And, of cause, let’s see how the cake looks on the inside. Personally, I really like when there is fruit filling in the cut.

Notes:

All the ingredients should be at room temperature.
You can use any other spices you like.
You can bake the cake layers a couple of days in advance, tightly cover them with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until assembling the cake.
Each cake layer turned out approximately half an inch thick. If you prefer thicker cake layers, you can double the cake ingredients to make a thick 8-inch cake layers or you can use 6-inch cake pan. Anyway, the baking time will change.
You can make the orange curd filling the day before the cake is assembled and store it in the refrigerator.
Homemade marshmallow fondant can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to a month.

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