Variation of Not too sweet carrot cake (now much sweeter)

Ingredients

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp fine salt
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• ⅛ tsp ground cloves
• 1½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar
• ½ cup neutral oil (grapeseed, avocado, or canola)
• ½ cup full-fat greek yogurt
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 zest of 1 large orange
• 3 cups finely grated carrots (packed lightly)
• 1 cup raisins, plumped in warm water and drained
• 1 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped
• 16 oz full-fat cream cheese, room temperature
• ½ cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 3 cups powdered sugar, to taste
• 2 tbsp full-fat greek yogurt
• 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• salt

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease three 8-inch round pans, line bottoms with parchment, and lightly flour.
2. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a bowl.
3. In a large bowl, whisk sugars with eggs until smooth and slightly lighter. Whisk in oil, Greek yogurt, vanilla, and orange zest until fully emulsified.
4. Add dry ingredients to wet and fold gently until just combined. Do not overmix.
5. Toss raisins and nuts with 1 tbsp flour, then fold in along with carrots.
6. Divide batter evenly among pans. Bake 22–28 minutes, rotating halfway, until a toothpick comes out clean.
7. Cool in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto racks. Cool completely before frosting.
8. Beat cream cheese and butter until completely smooth.
9. Add powdered sugar gradually, stopping early and tasting.
10. Beat in Greek yogurt, lemon juice, vanilla, and salt.
11. Chill 15–20 minutes if frosting feels soft before assembling.
12. Level cake layers if needed. You may need to refrigerate the icing if too soft.
13. Use ~¾ cup frosting between each layer. Do a crumb coat - thin layer of frosting on the outside and fridge uncovered for 20 minutes before finishing.
14. Frost lightly on the outside for balance rather than excess sweetness.