Chocolate Carrot Cake

Chocolate Carrot Cake

Ingredients:
Carrot Cake
1 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
4 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 cup melted unsalted butter, partially cooled
2 cups grated carrots
4 oz semi-sweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
Sour cream and white chocolate icing
12 oz white chocolate, chopped
1/2 cup sour cream

Candied Carrots
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 small, thick carrots, thinly sliced lengthwise on a mandoline (12 slices needed)

Directions:
Carrot Cake
1. With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Butter two 20-cm (8-inch) springform pans. Line the bottoms with parchment paper.
2. In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.
3. In another bowl, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla with an electric mixer until the mixture turns pale and doubles in volume, about 10 minutes. Using a spatula, gently fold in the melted butter. 4. Gently whisk in the dry ingredients. Add the grated carrots and chocolate.
5. Pour the batter into the pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Run a thin knife around the edge of the cake to separate it from the pan. Unmould onto a cooling rack and let cool.

Sour cream and white chocolate icing
1. Melt the chocolate in a bain-marie or double boiler. Remove from the heat. Add the sour cream and stir until the mixture is smooth. Set aside until the cake is fully cooled, about 2 hours.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the chocolate mixture until it stiffens slightly, about 2 minutes. If necessary, refrigerate for a few minutes. Ice the top of both cakes. Set 1 cake on top of the other.

Candied Carrots
1. In a saucepan, bring the orange juice and sugar to a boil. Add the sliced carrots. Simmer until tender and translucent, about 8 minutes depending on thickness. Let cool completely. Drain. 2. Twist each carrot slice and arrange on the cake to mark the slices. NoteThe top of the cake is very delicate.