Mom's Best Ever Carrot Cake

1Preheat oven to 350*. Grease and flour 2 (9 inch) round cake pans. In bowl stir together first 7 ingredients, set aside; in large bowl with mixer at medium speed beat next 4 ingredients just until blended. Gradually beat in flour mixture just until blended. With spoon stir in carrots, raisins and nuts. Turn into prepared pans and bake 45 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove cakes from pans; gently place cakes on racks or platters and cool completely.

2While cakes are baking, Prepare cream Cheese Icing: 1 Pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese softened
1 stick butter (room temp.)
1 tsp vanilla, 1 tsp. orange zest, and 3 to 4 fresh tsp. orange juice.
1 pound box + 1/2 pd. box confectioners’ sugar
In bowl beat cream cheese, butter, vanilla, orange zest, and orange juice until light and smooth. Slowly beat in confectioners’ sugar about a 1/4 cup at a time into cream cheese mixture. Cover and refrigerate icing for at least 1 hour. Spread 1/3 of the icing on 1 top of 1st layer of cake then top with second cake layer. Frost sides of cake with remaining frosting. Garnish with nuts if desired.

3Quick Tip* Quick alternative for preparing frosting: Use 1 extra large can of vanilla or cream cheese frosting and add 1 (8 oz) pkg. of softened cream cheese to frosting and beat together until smooth and creamy.
I find that cakes come out easier when I use foil cake pans for this type of cake. When you’re ready to invert cakes onto platter, just tap the bottom of pans with your hand so cake comes away from pans easily.