Carrot Cake

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2 (4.5 ounce) jars carrot baby food
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 1 1/4 cups chopped pecans

DIRECTIONS

1.      Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round pans.

2.      In a large bowl, combine sugar and oil; beat well. Add eggs, carrots, and 1 teaspoon vanilla; beat mixture until smooth. Combine flour, salt, soda, and spices; add to creamed mixture, beating well. Pour batter into prepared pans.

3.      Bake for 30 minutes, or until cake tests done. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, and then transfer layers to wire racks.

4.      To Make Cream Cheese Frosting: Combine cream cheese and butter or margarine, beating until light and fluffy. Add 1 tablespoon vanilla and confectioners' sugar; beat until smooth. Stir in chopped pecans. Fill and frost the cake with cream cheese frosting. Garnish with pecans, if desired.