5 Spice Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Spiced Frosting

Notes: This makes a small batch, they won’t be around for long!

INGREDIENTS

Cake:
2/3 Cup flour
1/2 Cup granulated sugar
1 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp Chinese Five Spice Powder
1/8 tsp Ground Cloves
1/8 tsp Freshly Grated Nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 Cup Roasted French Walnut Oil
2 eggs
1 cup finely grated carrot

Cream Cheese Frosting:
One 8-oz package cream cheese
8 Tbsp butter, softened at room temperature
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1 3/4 Cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

STEPS
Line cupcake pan with paper liners.  Preheat the oven to 350°F.

In a bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt, mix will to blend.

In another, smaller bowl, whisk together the oil and eggs until blended, and then stir the egg mixture into the flour with a rubber spatula. Add the grated carrot and stir until mixture is well blended. Transfer the batter to the prepared cupcake pan, filling each paper liner just over halfway.

Bake for 18-20 min, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean. Let cakes cool in the pan until easy to handle, about 15 min, and then remove cupcakes from the warm pan and continue to cool them on a wire rack.

While the cake is cooling, make the frosting. In a bowl, combine the cream cheese, butter, vanilla, cinnamon and confectioners’ sugar. Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld mixer, beat on medium speed until ingredients are completely combined, and the frosting is smooth. Spread or pipe the frosting over each cupcake. Garnish with additional grated carrots if desired.