Mini Carrot and Almond Cakes with photo

[foodiepep]

I've just made these delightful little cakes and thought I'd share them with you.

Carrot and Almond Cakes

Ingredients

200g raw sugar
zest of 1 orange
5 eggs, separated
300g  carrots, peeled - approx 3 medium
200g almond meal
75g self-raising flour

Frosting
170g raw sugar
20g softened butter
80g cream cheese

Method
1.  Blitz raw sugar and zest of orange on speed 9 for 20 seconds.
2.  Insert butterfly and add egg yolks.  Mix on speed 4 for 1 minute.
3.  Remove butterfly and add chopped carrots.  Blitz on speed 9 for 1 minute.
4.  Add almond meal and flour speed 4 for 10 seconds.
5.  In another bowl whisk the egg whites to form soft peaks.  I did this in my kitchenaid.  If you don't have another appliance to do this pour carrot mixture into a large bowl and clean and dry Thermomix bowl thoroughly. If using the Thermomix insert butterfly and beat speed 4 for 3 -5 minutes.
6. Gently fold in half the egg whites into carrot mixture follow with the remained of the egg whites until jut combined.
7. Spoon mixture into cupcake moulds.  I lined mine with silicone cupcake cases so they didn't stick to the tray.  
8. Bake at 170 c for 25 minutes.  allow to cool and ice with cream cheese frosting.

Frosting

I a clean bowl measure raw sugar and blitz speed 9 for 20 seconds.
Insert butterfly and add butter and cream cheese.  Whip on speed 4 for 1 minute.  Place in a small bowl and refrigerate so it chills and firms slightly.  


Would be good with toasted almond flakes on top.  

It seems like there are quite a few steps in this recipe but it was really quick from the time I started until they were in the oven. 

It was adapted from here http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/19463/carrot+almond+muffins

If you leave off the icing they are a nice dairy free option and in my opinion guilt free as they don't have any butter in them.

[Cuilidh]

Yummmmm

[judydawn]

Thanks foodiepep, love any cake with carrot in it.  These would suit mini muffin trays too.

[JulieO]

Look lovely Peps. 

[cookie1]

They certainly do look lovely. One of my major food 'must eats' is carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

[foodiepep]

The almond meal in these make the carrot flavour quite subtle.  My 7 year old have eaten 3 of these today and yet he wouldn't eat normal carrot cake, just the icing off the top.