exotic pistachio and cardamom carrot cake layered with jam
I bake this on a tray and cut it with a round cutter. it takes half as long to bake and I don’t have to stand in front of the oven watching it.
ingredients
- 350g (2 1⁄3 cups) coarsely grated carrot
- 250g (2 cups) plain flour
- 4 eggs
- 8g (2 tsp) baking powder
- 200g (1 cup) caster sugar
- 180ml (3⁄4 cup) vegetable oil
- a pinch of salt
optional ingredients
- 6g (1 tbsp) ground cardamom
- 2g (1 tsp) ground cinnamon
- 30g (1⁄4 cup) chopped or slivered pistachios
ingredients for the icing
- 500g (2 cups) heavy cream or cream cheese
- 300g (1 1⁄2 cup) caster sugar
ingredients for the carrot jam
- 200g (1 1⁄2 cup) finely grated carrot
- 150g ( 3⁄4 cup) caster sugar
- optionally, 1g (1⁄2 tsp) ground cardamom
preparation
- grease a 30x40cm (12x16 inch) oven tray with baking spray or line it with baking paper
- preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F
- mix the dry ingredients in a bowl
- make sure to squeeze all the carrot juice out of the grated carrot after weighing or you will end up with a soggy (and raw) cake
- gently fold the prepared carrot in the dry ingredients
- beat the eggs and the sugar with an electric mixer until pale and thick
- mixer still on, drizzle in the oil and gradually add the carrot mixture for a few minutes
- if you are adding ground cardamom and cinnamon, now is the time
- pour the batter and spread evenly into the prepared tray
- bake for 20-30 minutes or until a skewer comes out clean
- set aside for an hour to cool
preparation of the icing
- beat the heavy cream or cream cheese and sugar with an electric mixer until the sugar is fully dissolved
- if using heavy cream, continue beating until the cream is whipped and formed for three minutes
preparation of the jam
- combine the grated carrot with the sugar in a saucepan
- cook on a medium heat for 10-15 minutes until the carrots are cooked and the syrup is thick
- if you want to add an extra boost of aroma to the jam, add ground cardamom
- to assemble, cut three 20cm discs out of the cake using a cake cutter
Don’t worry if you break the discs or if they’re not perfectly round - you can use odd bits and pieces and patch them back together; just use the imperfect disc as the middle layer. Put the first layer on a cake stand and spread 3 spoonfuls of jam into the centre followed by a third of the icing. If you’re adding pistachios (and I strongly recommend that you do), scatter a third of them onto the cream cheese. Repeat with the second and third layer, then pipe the final third of the icing on top with the remaining pistachios and a few dots of carrot jam.
If you wish to organise a casual luncheon, a business gathering or a joyfull wedding in Belgium or The Netherlands, please take a look at the catering options and contact me to see how we can turn your event into a memorable happening.All 50 recipes in my cookbook have 5 major ingredients, carefully chosen to respect the original dishes on which they are based. You can easily order my cookbook online or come pick it up. Participants to a workshop get a €5 discount.Join others and learn how to cook and bake a four-course Persian meal. All workshops are held in Belgium or The Netherlands and participants get a €5 discount on my cookbook.You can find many recipes on the website. Most recipes use Persian cooking essentials like indigenous herbs, spices, nuts and fruits. You can also find 50 recipes in my cookbook.Many cities in Iran are on the UNESCO heritage list. Read some culinary travel stories on how I experience my country or learn more about its culture and history.My professional approach of food photography makes your recipes and food products shine in cookbooks, product packaging, online use, catalog or menus.Follow me on Instagram to view my latest updates. In case of any questions or reservations please do not hesitate contacting me by filling in the form.
