Almost Homemade Carrot Cake

For the cake:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a large mixing bowl using an electric mixer, add all of the cake ingredients except the carrots, coconut, raisins and walnuts and mix on low for 30 seconds. Turn the mixer to medium and mix for another 2 minutes. Fold in the carrots, coconut, raisins and walnuts. Pour into three greased 8 inch round cake pans.

Bake cakes at 350 F for about 30 minutes (if you only have 2 cake pans and you fill the 2 pans fuller as a result, the cooking time increases by about 10 more minutes). When done remove cakes from the oven and set on a rack to cool. Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

In a large mixing bowl, combine softened butter, cream cheese and vanilla. When combined, add cinnamon and then slowly add the powdered sugar until well mixed. If frosting is too thick after mixing, add 1 tablespoon of water and mix until you get your desired consistency.

Now, frost the cake. Yay! Place your first cake layer on a plate, cardboard cake plate, or cake stand. Top with the cream cheese frosting. Add another cake layer and then more cream cheese frosting. Place the final layer of cake on top and frost the rest of the cake. Make the frosting as simple or as decorative as you like.