Marshmallow Treat Carrot Cake

Spring has sprung...and so did my imagination when I decided to take on the icon that is carrot cake. Going at it at least 20 different directions, I found myself wanting to be responsible, but then not really. More texture, more goo, more let loose, get reborn, spring energy, pls. So here she is, a carrot cake-ish layered fete of 3 epic spring flings. Carrot cake (epic recipe), cookie butter (no notes), and a purposefully v. gooey rice krispy treat base.

Ingredient Notes:

Carrot cake really is a revelation. THERE ARE VEGETABLES IN YOUR CAKE! And take note, because those sturdy root vegetables, shredded are what give that sponge extra color, flavor and moisture. So much so that you can sub in any root vegetable you’re into or have- beets! Celery root! Potatoes! Different color carrots! Parsnips! Fennel! I”d probably steer clear of radishes and turnips (spicy!) but zucchini plays here too, ditto any other squash like butternut or acorn!

The cream cheese in the cake batter helps round out the carrot sponge, and keeps it super moist and tender. It’s a cool move for any other cake you might have in your rolodex that isn’t quite delivering.

Spice girl? I don’t love too much spice in my carrot cake, but you might- add more cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg, pumpkin pie spice, ginger, etc. You’re in the driver’s seat.

Add any carrot cake extras you like at your own risk: pineapple, raisins, nuts…I like them all, but know they’re like fighting words to others, plus this cake already has so much of its own personality!

Rice Krispies are just the starting point, maybe you’re a Cinnamon Toast Crunch family or super into Honey Nut Cheerios or Crispix or Honey Bunches of Oats, or have a cuss-ton of granola lying around… any cereal swaps in great as long as it plays to the flavor story of the overall cake!

Tip:

When lining 9” cake rounds, fold a piece of parchment in half and then again in half then start folding it in on itself like a paper airplane. Place the tip of the plane in the center of the cake pan and measure to the outer end of the cake pan, cutting it with a slight rounding effect. Unfurl and go, being sure to both grease between the pan and the parchment round to keep it in place and then again across the parchment and walls of the pan for easy release. 

Carrot Cake-ish Layer Cake 

Makes one 9-inch cake

Carrot Cake

4 tablespoons butter, super soft

2 oz cream cheese, softened

⅓ cup light brown sugar

⅓ cup sugar

1 egg

1 tablespoon oil

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons flour

¾ teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

⅛ teaspoon baking soda

¾ cup carrots, grated (from 1-2 medium sized carrots, peeled) (save a few for garnish)

Cereal Treat

4 tablespoons butter

10 ounces mini marshmallows or 5 cups (save a few for garnish)

3 cups Rice Krispies

1 cup Cookie Butter

Heat oven to 350F. Line and grease two 9-inch pans.

In a bowl stir butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add in sugars and mix until homogeneous. Stir in egg and until combined. Stir in oil and mix until combined and shiny. Add in dry ingredients and stir just until mixture comes together. Stir in carrots and mix until batter is streaked with orange shards.

Spread the batter evenly across one 9-inch pan and bake at 350F for 15-17 minutes. Cool completely in pan, then invert to remove, peeling pack the round of parchment.

While the cake is baking and cooling, prepare the cereal treat layer. In a medium size pot, melt butter on medium low heat, stir in marshmallows and continue stirring on medium low heat until all melt down into one gooey mass (you can do this in the microwave, too!). Stir in the cereal and mix until well coated. Spread the marshmallowy mass even across the second 9-inch pan (I like to scoop and save a few little clusters for the top) and let cool at room temperature, about 10 minutes.  

Once cool. Remove cereal treat from pan inverting onto a cake plate, peel back the parchment paper and discard. Spread Cookie butter evenly over the surface all the way to the edges. Place the carrot cake, right side up and garish with the extra cereal treat clusters, mini marshmallows and shredded carrots.