Brazilian Carrot Cake

February 24, 2021mayurisjikoni
Blog post

RECIPE: BRAZILIAN CARROT CAKE

Brazilian Carrot Cake is not only beautifully bright but so soft, moist, fluffy and divine. Drizzled with melted dark chocolate, it makes a perfect dessert or enjoy some with coffee.

I’d come across the recipe years ago and had jotted it down. Then, had forgotten all about it. Generally, if I’m not with family for my birthday, it does not occur to my hubby to order a cake! I’d actually been dropping hints that there are quite a few ladies in our apartment complex who bake and sell cakes, one is my neighbor. However, come 20th Feb there is no cake!

So the hunt for an easy peasy cake began as I knew my other neighbor’s kid would be expecting a birthday cake from Mayuri Aunty! A plain vanilla cake, or a passion fruit and coconut one. Was flicking through the pages of my recipe book and Brazilian Carrot Cake popped up! Happiness, as I had all the ingredients at hand.

It Is a Traditional Cake

Also known as Bolo de Cenoura in Portuguese, this Brazilian Carrot Cake is very simple to make and is usually served with coffee. Its a common cake baked in Brazil. Actually, it is so different from the usual carrot cakes we know where you see specks of grated carrot and usually frosted with cream cheese. This cake is a beautiful yellowish orange in colour and you’ll barely taste the carrot. In Brazil this carrot cake is not baked specifically for Easter but you can. Its just too delish.

My Kids Asked What Present I Wanted

At 59, there’s not much I want in the way of presents. Of course will never say no to some props for my food photography. My reply to them was I just want to be with my family, that will be the most treasured gift of all. Having said that, when the huge bouquet of flowers with lilies arrived, it made me happy. As hubby sometimes says the simples things make me happy 🙂

Some Cakes to Check Out:

Some Tips before you Bake the Cake

  • Sift the flour with baking powder and salt at least twice. This will help in the cake turning out  fluffy.
  • Its best to weight the carrots instead of using cup measurements. The amount of carrots used contributes to the softness of the cake.
  • Blend oil, carrots, sugar and eggs till you get a nice creamy mixture.
  • When you add the dry ingredients, mix gently till just incorporated into the liquid. Over mixing will result in a dense cake.
  • Don’t be tempted to open the oven when the cake is baking, as it will collapse. If you want to check if its done, then perhaps just 5 or 10 minutes before the indicated baking time but definitely not before that.
  • Don’t be in a hurry to remove the cake from the pan once its baked. Allow it to cool in the pan for at least 10-15 minutes.

Can it be baked without eggs?

When I posted the photo of the cake on my Instagram the first question I received is that does it have eggs. When I replied yes, I was asked if it can be baked eggless. Well, truthfully I wouldn’t try as here the eggs play an important part in the softness, fluffiness and overall rise of the cake. Without eggs it would not be a Brazilian Carrot Cake.

Do I have to use a bundt pan?

  • Not really, I just thought the cake would look a bit more festive if I baked it in the bundt pan. And anyway I hadn’t used it in a long time.
  • You may use a 9 inch round cake tin.
  • Or use a 9 X 13 inch rectangle pan.

Chocolate Topping:

Don’t omit it! It makes the cake taste so different.

  • I used melted dark chocolate. But there are other types of chocolate topping you may use.
  • Chocolate Glaze :

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

⅓ cup sugar

⅓ cup water

1 tbsp butter

Mix all the ingredients in a pan. Put the pan over medium heat and continue stirring till it begins to boil. Keep stirring till the sauce begins to leave the bottom of the pan. Take the pan off the heat and allow it to cool.

  • Or use normal chocolate butter icing.

Quantity of Sugar

There are so many Brazilian Carrot Cake recipes and each has a varying amount of sugar. Some use only 1 cup others 1¾. Feel free to use how much you want. I used 1½ and since I paired it with dark chocolate, it was perfect for us. However, if I were to use chocolate glaze or chocolate icing then I would reduce the amount to 1 cup.

Ingredients Required For Brazilian Carrot Cake

  • Carrots – peeled and chopped or grated. I grated them to make the blending process easier.
  • Eggs – large ones at room temperature.
  • Sugar – caster sugar. Use more or less depending on how sweet you want the cake to be.
  • Vegetable Oil – use any vegetable oil. I used sunflower oil.
  • All purpose flour – plain flour
  • Baking Powder – as the leavening agent
  • Salt – to balance the sweetness
  • Dark Chocolate – grated or broken into small pieces
  • Butter – to add a bit to the melted chocolate . Optional.

 

Pin For Later:

BRAZILIAN CARROT CAKE

mayurisjikoni
Brazilian Carrot Cake is not only beautifully bright but so soft, moist, fluffy and divine. Drizzled with melted dark chocolate, it makes a perfect dessert or enjoy a slice with some coffee.
5 from 13 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course cake, Dessert, Tea Time
Cuisine Brazilian
Servings 8

Ingredients
  

FOR THE CAKE:

  • 300 g carrots (approx.2 cups grated) peeled, chopped or grated
  • 4 medium eggs
  • cups sugar
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 cups plain flour, all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder

FOR THE CHOCOLATE TOPPING:

  • 100-150 g dark chocolate broken into small pieces
  • 1 tbsp butter

Instructions
 

PREPARATION OF BRAZILIAN CARROT CAKE

  • Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  • Grease the bundt pan or any pan you are using with some butter or oil.
  • Dust it with some flour. Tap out the excess flour.
  • Sift flour and baking powder at least twice.
  • Add oil, eggs, carrots, sugar and salt into a blender jug.
  • Process the mixture till it becomes creamy. This will take about 1-2 minutes.
  • Pour the liquid mixture into a large bowl.
  • Add flour and mix gently till all the flour is incorporated into the liquid.
  • Pour the batter into the prepared tin.
  • Bake for 50 minutes or till the top is golden brown and a skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean.
  • Take the cake out of the oven and allow it to cool down in the pan for at least 15 minutes.
  • Gently remove the cake from the pan. Use a spatula to run around the edges to loosen the cake from the pan.
  • Cover with a plate upside down. Hold the plate and pan with both hands and flip it over.
  • The cake should drop onto the plate easily.

PREPARATION OF THE CHOCOLATE TOPPING:

  • Take a heatproof bowl and a pan. The bowl should sit snuggly on top of the pan.
  • Place the chocolate in a heatproof small bowl.
  • Heat some water in a pan. Take it off the heat.
  • Place the bowl on the pan. It should sit well without touching the hot water.
  • Mix the chocolate with a spoon till it melts completely.
  • Add butter and mix till it melts and is mixed completely into the melted chocolate.

FINAL PREPARATION:

  • Brush the melted chocolate over the cake. I brushed it as I didn't want the chocolate to collect on the plate. Brushing it, meant that I got it on the cake. If the cake is round or rectangle, you can just pour the chocolate over it and spread it.
  • Serve with coffee or on its own.

Notes

  • Make sure you sift the flour and baking powder twice.
  • Blend the liquid mixture and the carrots properly. Blend till creamy. No large carrot pieces should remain. That is why its better to grate it.
  • Don't open the oven door while the cake is baking otherwise it will sink.
Keyword easy Brazilian Carrot Cake, traditional Brazilian Carrot Cake

Pin For Later:

A little request:

If you do try this recipe then please either

  • add a comment below,
  • send a picture to my email mayuri.ajay.patel62@gmail.com
  •  tag me as #mayuri_jikoni on Instagram
  • or tag me on Twitter as #Mayuri1962
 

27 Comments

  • Jayashree T.Rao

    March 1, 2021 at 4:13 pm

    5 stars
    The cake looks soft and delicious. Love the chocolate topping over it, yummy cake.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 1, 2021 at 5:07 pm

      Thank you so much Jayashree.

  • JollyHomemadeRecipes

    March 2, 2021 at 12:11 am

    5 stars
    Homemade cakes are my favorite dessert and my weakness. This carrot cake with chocolate drizzle look super indulgent. 😋😍 look seriously moist and decadent, would love to try soon.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 2, 2021 at 6:55 pm

      Thank you so much Jolly, please do try it. Its really delicious.

  • Maria

    March 2, 2021 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    It really is very different from the usual carrot cake that we are all accustomed to. This looks lovely, moist and light, Mayuri. I love such tea cakes! Must have made your birthday super sweet!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 2, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      Thanks Maria, it sure did as I hate cakes with mile high frosting..so cakes like these are more to my liking.

  • Azlin Bloor

    March 2, 2021 at 12:52 pm

    5 stars
    This Brazilian carrot cake looks simply amazing, Mayuri, the colour and yes, you’re right the softness! You can just see how moist it is. I am definitely going to have to try it.
    You are right about birthday presents. Besides books and drinks, it’s definitely props for my photos that I just love receiving.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 2, 2021 at 6:43 pm

      Thank you so much Azlin, I was totally surprised by not only the colour but also how soft the cake is. Please do try it.

  • indrani sen

    March 2, 2021 at 2:07 pm

    5 stars
    The cake looks soft fluffy decadent and chocolaty

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 2, 2021 at 6:41 pm

      Thank you so much Indrani.

  • Super duper kitchen

    March 2, 2021 at 4:32 pm

    5 stars
    The texture of the cake looks too good. I have made carrot cakes. But this one looks so different. Bad luck is I cannot make this or taste this as it cannot be made eggless. The dark chocolate adds beauty to the cake.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 6, 2021 at 11:34 am

      Thank you Niranjana, without eggs you would not get the same texture. However, egg replacer would probably work. But I’ve not used ready made egg replacer for bakes.

  • Swati

    March 2, 2021 at 5:46 pm

    5 stars
    Wow.. this looks so beautiful.. loved the color, the crumb and the texture looks great.. soft and fluffy just like a cake should be. I have to try this now.. you rightly said simple things make us all happy. lilies look so pretty.. a happy happy day for you .. and I think our better half usually forget about cakes and pampering in the ways we want them.. they have their own ways to shower affection and appreciation 🙂

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 2, 2021 at 6:41 pm

      Thanks Swaty, try the cake out, but for that colour use only the orange carrots and not the red ones. And yes your right my hubby knows how to pamper me in a different way.

  • Hem lata srivastava

    March 3, 2021 at 5:11 am

    5 stars
    I always read full description in your recipes and every time I find a new name and new recipe. Your baking skills are amazing, the cake looks delicious

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 4, 2021 at 5:59 pm

      Thank you so much Hem Lata.

  • Sandhya Ramakrishnan

    March 5, 2021 at 8:41 pm

    5 stars
    This Brazilian carrot cake is just so moist and I am in love with the texture of the cake. Being with family is absolutely the best gift but those lilies would have made your day even awesome. How thoughtful! Brushing the chocolate is a great tip. I will give that a try next time.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 5, 2021 at 11:47 pm

      Thank you so much Sandhya. I can’t wait to be with my family as I miss them too much.

  • Poonam bachhav

    March 6, 2021 at 5:09 am

    5 stars
    Love the gorgeous color and texture of this Brazilian Carrot Cake. Looks so spongy, soft and moist and the chocolate topping makes it all the more desirable.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 6, 2021 at 11:33 am

      Thank you so much Poonam.

  • Priya Srinivasan

    March 6, 2021 at 6:38 pm

    5 stars
    Wow Brazilian carrot cake looks absolutely stunning mayuriji! Love the gorgeous color, and the texture is brilliant, so soft and fluffy!!! the chocolate on top makes it more inviting!!!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 7, 2021 at 4:53 pm

      Thank you so much Priya, the chocolate topping balances the flavours so well.

  • Lata Lala

    March 7, 2021 at 10:31 am

    5 stars
    This carrot cake that is chocolate covered really is very different from the usual carrot cake.

    It has lovely, moist crumb Mayuri and this sounds so perfect for you birthday celebration.

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 7, 2021 at 4:51 pm

      Thank you so much Lata, I was really happy that I baked it. It truly is a delicious cake and so easy to make.

  • Uma

    March 8, 2021 at 9:26 pm

    5 stars
    Love the color and texture of the Brazilian carrot cake! I have tasted many carrot cakes and always enjoyed them! This looks super delicious!

    1. mayurisjikoni

      March 9, 2021 at 1:01 pm

      Thank you so much Uma, you’ve got to try this one as its so different.

  • Casatiello/ Stuffed Savoury Bread – Batter Up With Sujata

    November 8, 2022 at 4:48 am

    […] I always love her baking skill and her vast collection of baked dishes. I have bookmarked her Brazilian carrot cake to try soon. Mayuri gave me rosemary and mushroom and I used both of these ingredients in stuffing […]

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