Grilled Carrot Cake Sandwich

Carrot cake is already a favorite in my household but grill it in the panini press and smear delicious cream cheese frosting in the middle and it goes to a whole new level. The grilling adds caramelization and crispness to the outside of the cake but still keeps the inside moist and light for a fantastic texture and the sandwich form makes it so much more fun to eat!

I think this would work with just about any quick bread or dense cake recipe but carrot cake is the only one I have tried and I don't know if I can stray now it's so good.

My personal carrot cake recipe is too light and airy for this application so I searched around to find a recipe that looked dense. The recipe that follows is from Martha Stewart and is called a tea cake. It is baked in a loaf pan and is dense but still very moist - and delicious!

I used my own cream cheese frosting recipe not the one from MS.

Step 1: For the Carrot Cake

Martha Stewart's Carrot Tea Cake
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan (and grilling)
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 cup packed dark-brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 cup packed grated carrots (from about 2 carrots)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 5-by-9-inch (6-cup) loaf pan. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Using an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy; beat in eggs and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in carrots. With mixer on low, gradually add flour mixture; beat just until combined. Transfer batter to prepared pan; bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Let cool in pan 5 minutes. Turn cake out onto a wire rack, and let cool completely.

** I used a wide loaf pan and baked it for 30 minutes and it came out perfect.

Comments

[Little Mom on the Prairie]

This is the most refreshing new take on the classic carroty cake that I have seen in a long time, and I cannot wait to try it out myself! Thanks for sharing and congrats on being a finalist in the dessert contest!

[wold630]

Thanks and congrats to you as well! Your chocolate pudding cupcake looks fantastic. I love the strawberry in the middle idea!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

I'm not even a fan of carrot cake, but I would so eat this :D

[wold630]

If you don't like carrot cake you could use zucchini bread or banana bread and do the same thing!

[Penolopy Bulnick]

Ooooh! Banana bread, that's genius!

[mygibzone]

OH MY....this looks & sounds fantastic! I love me some carrot cake! ;)

[wold630]

Thanks! Me too!

[jessyratfink]

Oh my goodness, that is amazing!

[wold630]

Thank you! Seriously one of the best desserts I have had in a long long time!

[BTrey]

For another twist, cut the carrot cake into slices, dip in egg/milk mixture and brown in a frying pan, just as you would if making French toast. An absolute bomb of a breakfast.

[wold630]

If you attempt this for a twist on french toast I would recommend cutting your cake slices very thick. It is soft enough (if using this recipe) that I think it would fall apart in the egg batter. Let us know if you try it.

[wazzup105]

Interesting...

[wold630]

Thanks.....I think.

[wazzup105]

No really.. very interesting. Grilling cake might give it some extra flavor and certainly an extra crunch .. very interesting indeed !

[rrkrose]

Wow this looks delicious!

[wold630]

Thanks!