Innovative carrot cake: Condensed milk steals the spotlight

Carrot cake is known for its moisture, which makes it more challenging to master than classic baked goods like a traditional sponge cake. When first attempting a carrot cake, it's best to choose a simple recipe without a long, complicated list of ingredients. The surprising and interesting addition will be condensed milk from a can, a familiar component from homemade caramel cream preparations used to layer wafers, among other things.

The recipe that went viral on social media uses condensed milk instead of eggs and oil. When using the proportion where 60 ml of sweetened condensed milk corresponds to one egg, you can arrange the other ingredients to bake a cake that has the right texture. There's no need to add sugar since the recipe relies on the sugar contained in the condensed milk to achieve sweetness. Additionally, it will give the cake a delicious, milky taste.

Ingredients:

• 250 g plain flour,
• 1 teaspoon baking powder,
• 2 carrots (about 280 g),
• 1 can of condensed milk,
• 100 g walnuts.

For the frosting:

• 60 g of softened butter,
• 500 g of icing sugar (sifted),
• 250 g cream cheese,
• 80 ml of lemon juice.

Preparation of the cake:

1. Preheat the oven to 180°C, then grease and line a loaf pan with baking parchment, covering the bottom and sides.
2. Peel the carrots and grate them directly onto one half of a clean cloth. Fold the cloth and gently squeeze out the excess moisture, then transfer the carrot to a bowl.
3. Add flour, baking powder, and condensed milk, and then mix everything with a wooden spoon to form the batter.
4. Add chopped walnuts, if using, and you can reserve some for decorating the frosting.
5. Transfer the batter to the lined pan, ensuring the walnuts are evenly distributed in the batter. Place the cake in the oven for about 50 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.
6. After baking, remove the cake from the oven and leave it to cool down.

Preparation of the frosting (optional):

1. Beat the cream cheese in a bowl using an electric mixer until smooth.
2. Add the softened butter and beat for 30 seconds to a minute, until the ingredients combine and become fluffy.
3. Add lemon juice and icing sugar, continuing to mix until the ingredients are combined.
4. Once the cake is completely cool, spread the frosting on top and sprinkle with the remaining chopped walnuts.

This recipe is an excellent way to prepare a sweet treat from scratch without buying additional ingredients or making a mess in the kitchen. Thanks to its simplicity and quick preparation, carrot cake with condensed milk is an ideal proposal for any occasion.