Hawaiian Carrot Cake from Elsah's Landing Restaurant

This is a family favorite. We all love this recipe. If you can let it age for at least 24 hours in a covered container, it really mellows and the flavors are incredible.

~ jan

2 cups sugar
3 eggs lightly beaten
1-cup vegetable oil
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1-teaspoon salt
2 cups shredded carrots
2 cups shredded coconut
1 can (8oz) crushed pineapple (drained)
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 cup raisins (optional)

Instructions

(Preheat over to 350 degrees) In a medium bowl combine sugar, eggs, oil, vanilla and mix well. In a large bowl combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt, mix well. Add the liquid mixture to the flour mixture and mix well. Fold in carrots; coconut, pineapple and walnuts mix well. Spoon batter in a 9x13 glass pan bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or in two 9" layer pans.

Let cool before frosting. Frost with cream cheese icing. When I make this in a layer pan, I put a layer of nuts on the frosting between the layers and coconut, and then I put a layer of chopped nuts on top of the frosted cake as well.

Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
4 tablespoons of melted butter
2 tablespoons of milk or half and half
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 box of powdered sugar.

Combine ingredients and beat well. I mix mine in the Cuisinart. Spread on cooled cake.