The MOST delicious carrot and apple loaf cake

I just had to share this recipe as it is AMAZING!!  It's kind of a 'bit of this, bit of that' recipe but it turned out so well I just had to post it.  I was trying to find a recipe for nut free (school policy) carrot or apple muffins to make for Master J's lunch box treats.  When I googled it hundreds and hundreds came up!!  I started reading through them all to find one that was both healthy and a little bit of a treat and I decided to combine what I thought were the best bits from two or three different recipes and hope for the best.  Who would have thought I'd be this brave and adventurous in the kitchen!??

Cake Ingredients:

300g peeled carrots
2 green apples peeled and cored
150g butter
100g rapadura or soft dark brown sugar
100g unrefined caster sugar (I made mine by whizzing raw sugar in the thermomix for 3 secs on speed 9)
3 eggs
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
2 tsp cinnamon
180g plain flour

Method:

• Pre heat the oven to 150 degrees.
• Grate the apples and carrots for 5 seconds on speed 6.  Scrape the sides on the TM bowl down and grate fro another 2-3 seconds on speed 6.
• Put the grated apple and carrot into a separate bowl and using (clean) hands squeeze out the excess juices.  I discovered this little trick when cooking baby food finger food for Miss L.  Too much liquid will make the cake a bit too dense and soggy.

• Add the butter and sugars to the TM and beat for 30-40 seconds on speed 7 until light and fluffy.

• Scrape down the sides of the TM bowl and add the eggs.  Beat on speed 7 for 15 seconds or until fully incorporated.
• Add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking powder and mix for 10-15 seconds on speed 7.
• Fold in the grated apple and carrot by mixing on speed 3-4 for 15-20 seconds.

•  Pour into a loaf tin lined with baking paper and bake in the oven for 50 minutes to an hour.  I decided against the muffins in the end and actually I think it was much better as a loaf cake.

It smelt amazing!!

Cream Cheese and Orange Icing:

This is the best bit, I think - it was sooooo yummy!!  I used a block or 250g cream cheese, 50g icing sugar and the juice and zest of 1 orange.

Firstly I put the orange zest into the Thermomix and whizzed it for about 1 minute on speed 9.  Keeping a little of it aside for decorating I then added everything else to the TM bowl and mixed it for 20 seconds on speed 6.

Spread over your (cooled) loaf and ENJOY!!!

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