Orange Carrot Cake – How to make healthy cake at home for this season…

The cake which is healthy, tasty and flavorful. This is one of the perfect evening snacks for kids. Even picky eaters will love to have this!

I have tried this cake with wheat flour as well as Maida. When you make it with Maida, it is bouncing soft; while it is little lesser soft with wheat flour. But tastes delicious in both ways.

When you are making it to your loved ones as snack, I suggest you to go with wheat flour as it is healthy option.

You can watch the video for sample visual demo on orange carrot cake making or continue reading.

There are some points you should be mindful if you want this cake to turn out well.

1. If you grate the carrots as big flakes, it will appear coarsely in the cake which you will feel like pieces when you eat it. You need to grate the carrots as fine as possible. So use the small whole side of the grater to get it done.
2. Take the sweet orange for taking the juice instead of sour one. One full orange juice should be giving you the required flavor.
3. For orange zest, once again grate the orange peels as fine as possible like we did for carrots. This zest gives the flavor to the cake.
4. I opted out to use any other flavor like vanilla extract, to feel the orange flavor fully. If you prefer to add any flavors, you can add it too.

Orange carrot cake Recipe is as follows…

Ingredients required:

Wheat or all-purpose flour (maida)	1/2 cup
Sugar	1/4 cup
oil / melted butter	3 tbsp
Grated carrot	1/4 cup
Egg or milk	1 or 1/4 cup
Baking powder	1 tsp
Baking soda	1/4 tsp
Orange juice	from 1 fruit (3 tbsp)
Orange zest	1 tsp
Salt	a pinch

Preparation method:

1. Preheat oven for 170C.
2. In a mixing bowl, break the eggs and beat them well. If you go for eggless cake, add milk instead of eggs.
3. Add the sugar, oil or melted butter, orange juice, orange zest (finely grated orange peel) and grated carrots. Mix well.
4. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and a pinch of salt.
5. Mix all ingrediants in one direction but do not beat them fast.
6. The consistency of the batter should be flowing, not to thick or thin.
7. Transfer to greased cake tray and tap the tray twice to release if there are any air bubbles.
8. Put it in oven for about 30 minutes or until done.
9. Baking time slightly varies based on the oven, baking tin size. If you use wide cake tin, it will be done fast . So, open in between after 30 minutes and check by piercing using toothstick or knife.
10. Once cooked, remove from oven and let it cool for about 15 minutes.
11. Transfer the cake from mould to serving tray.
12. Cut the crown layer of the cake.
13. Glaze the top of the cake with orange glaze or decorate as you like.

Step-wise pictures:

1. Preheat oven for 170C.
2. In a mixing bowl, break the eggs and beat them well. If you go for eggless cake, add milk instead of eggs. Add the sugar, oil or melted butter, orange juice, orange zest (finely grated orange peel) and grated carrots. Mix well.
   
   
3. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and a pinch of salt. Mix all ingrediants in one direction but do not beat them fast.
   
4. The consistency of the batter should be flowing, not to thick or thin. Grease the cake mould with some oil and then place parchment paper and again grease with oil.
   
5. Transfer the batter to greased cake tray and tap the tray twice to release if there are any air bubbles. Put it in oven for about 30 minutes or until done.
6. Baking time slightly varies based on the oven, baking tin size. If you use wide cake tin, it will be done fast . So, open in between after 30 minutes and check by piercing using toothstick or knife.
7. Once cooked, remove from oven and let it cool for about 15 minutes.
   
8. Transfer the cake from mould to serving tray.
9. Cut the crown layer of the cake.
10. Glaze the top of the cake with orange glaze or decorate as you like.
    

Dont’s:

1. Do not keep more than mentioned heat in oven as the make might break at the top.

2. Do not over cook the cake, as the top layer will break.

3. If you use narrow cake tin, inner part will take time to cook while top layer will be too crispy like biscuit.

That’s it. I hope now you are ready to bake this cake.

Do try it for yourself. I would love to see your comments here on how you enjoyed it with your loved ones.

Have a great day..