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1
Prepare muffin tins with papers (about 48 regular cupcakes) or two 9-inch round cake pans (2 inch sides) with parchment and oil.
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2
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
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3
Coarsely grate the carrots in a food processor using the grater attachment.
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4
Chop them into finer pieces with the medal blade attachment in the food processor, if you want the texture of the cake a little bit finer.
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5
Mix together the eggs, sugar, oil, brown sugar, vanilla extract and orange zest.
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6
Mix together all of the dry ingredients in a bowl with a whisk.
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7
Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture.
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8
Add the finely chopped carrots, walnuts (or coconut), and raisins (or dried cherries).
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9
Pour the batter into the prepared pans or scoop into cupcake papers (fill 3/4 full).
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10
Bake cupcakes for about 18-25 minutes, or until tester comes out clean.
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11
Bake 9-inch cakes for about 35-40 minutes, or until tester comes out clean.
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12
Cool in pan(s) on wire rack for 10-15 minutes.
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13
Make frosting by combining all frosting ingredients and beating well, until fluffy.
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14
NOTE: If you like lots of frosting, double this recipe, but you'll have some left over, even if you are generous with it while frosting the cake. But it's delicious on EVERYTHING!
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15
To assemble the cake, remove from pan(s) and peel off the parchment paper from the bottom, place on cardboard rounds.
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16
With a thin serrated knife slice off the very top of the cake layer, using a sawing motion, to level the tops, if desired.
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17
Cut the cake layers into 2 equal layers. Slide the layers onto a cardboard round or any other flat surface.
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18
Using an offset spatula spread about 11/2 cups of the frosting evenly over the surface of the first layer.
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19
Top with the next layer and repeat for the rest of the layers.
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20
Place about 2 cups of the icing on the top of the cake and spread evenly.
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21
Spread the icing onto the sides of the cake.
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22
Using the spatula, create swirls in the frosting on the cake. This cream cheese frosting is very soft so you won't want to try for anything too exacting.
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23
Press additional shredded coconut onto the sides of this cake, as a garnish, if desired.