Grandma’s Famous Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

• 3 cups grated carrots
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups white sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 4 eggs
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
• ¾ cup chopped pecans
• 3 ½ cups confectioners’ sugar
• 1 (8 ounce) package Neufchatel cheese
• ½ cup butter, softened
• 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F . Grease and flour a 9 inch pan.

In a large bowl, combine grated carrots, flour, white sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Stir in eggs, oil, 1 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, pineapple and 3/4 cup chopped pecans. Spoon batter into prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

To Make Frosting:

In a medium bowl, combine confectioners’ sugar, Neufchatel cheese, 1/2 cup butter or margarine and 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla. Beat until smooth, then stir in 1 cup chopped pecans. Spread on cooled cake.