This delicious layered almond carrot cake can be altered, but this is my personal favorite version of my carrot cake recipe. If you don't like almonds, you can substitute them for pecans or walnuts, or just eliminate them. You can also serve as a single layer cake to save time, but the layers nicely distribute the frosting between the cake.

Cake ingredients:   

pinch of salt

2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

2 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. nutmeg

2 cups granulated sugar

2 cups flour

1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

4 eggs

3/4 cup crushed almonds

3 cups grated carrots

Frosting and topping ingredients:

1 cup sliced almonds

16 oz. cream cheese (room temperature)

1 cup confectioners sugar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and flour 13x9 inch cake pan. In a medium bowl, mix together all cake ingredients except for the carrots and almonds. After mixture is well blended, fold in grated carrots and crushed almonds. Pour into your prepared cake pan. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon.

2. Bake cake at 350 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Make sure not to over-bake.

3. While cake is baking, prepare frosting. Beat sugar and cream cheese until well blended. Add vanilla and beat a little more.

4. Cool off cake, then cut cake in half vertically, then slice  in half horizontally. Frost the first layer with approximately 1/5 of the frosting, then top with another layer. Repeat until you have four layers frosted. Use remaining frosting to frost top and side. Sprinkle sliced walnuts on top and pat on side of cake. TIPS: The cake might crumble a little while you are frosting if your cream cheese isn't warm enough. You can cover up any messy parts with almonds. Refrigerate until eating. Cake is best one day after it is made.

Enjoy!!! XO, Kate Stoltz