This Southern LIving recipe (published March 2023) is amazing especially during Easter! It turns a classic layer cake into a lovely and delicious sheet cake. Slice it into small servings as it’s quite filling to eat. It will take some time to make, but your company will love it!

Ingredients

Carrot Cake

• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. ground ginger
• 3/4 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 cup whole milk
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs, at room temperature
• 1 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 4 large carrots, peeled and shredded (2 cups shredded)
• 1 cup toasted walnuts, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup golden raisins, roughly chopped

Maple-Cream Cheese Frosting

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 (8-oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened
• 2 Tbsp. pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
• Green food coloring

Additional Ingredients

• Orange candy-coated almonds or another fun topping (Amazon)
• Green candy sprinkles 

Directions

Prepare the Carrot Cake:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 13- x 9-inch baking pan with baking spray, and line bottom of pan with parchment paper. Whisk together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, salt, baking soda, and nutmeg in a medium bowl. Whisk together milk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large liquid measuring cup.
• Pour egg mixture into flour mixture; stir to combine. Fold in carrots, walnuts, and raisins. Pour batter into prepared pan, spreading evenly.
• Bake in preheated oven until a wooden pick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 30 to 35 minutes. Transfer pan to a wire rack; cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours.

Prepare the Maple-Cream Cheese Frosting:

• Beat butter in a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes. Add cream cheese; beat until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add maple syrup and vanilla; beat on medium speed until well blended, about 30 seconds, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Reduce speed to low; add 1 cup of the powdered sugar, beating until well blended. Add remaining 1 cup powdered sugar and beat until smooth and combined. Chill until ready to use.
• Reserve 1/8 cup of the frosting in a small bowl. Stir in green food coloring, and transfer to a piping bag fitted with a small writing tip; set aside.
• Spread remaining Maple-Cream Cheese Frosting over cake.
• Arrange candy-coated almonds on top of cake in rows.
• Pipe green leaves onto the end of each almond with reserved green frosting.
• Garnish with sprinkles.

‘How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!’ Psalm 119:103