Southern Living has a great collection of lightened southern classic dishes. I'm sure you can tell that I love the idea of slimming down and lightening up favorite dishes so that we can enjoy them without taking in all the fat and calories of the original dish. So with that, here is a recipe for a lightened layered carrot cake recipe. Recently I've kind of become obsessed with well made carrot cake, so I am definitely excited to see how this one rates.

Layered Carrot Cake

• YIELD: Makes 16 servings
• HANDS-ON: 30 MINUTES
• TOTAL: 2 HOURS
• COURSE: Cakes/Frostings, Desserts

Ingredients

• CARROT CAKE BATTER
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 2 egg whites
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups grated carrots
• Vegetable cooking spray
• CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
• 1/2 (8-oz.) package 1/3-less-fat cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 1 to 2 tsp. fat-free milk (optional)

Preparation

• Prepare Batter:
• 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Whisk together pineapple and next 4 ingredients; add pineapple mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in carrots. Pour batter into 2 (8-inch) round cake pans coated with cooking spray.
• 2. Bake at 350° for 22 to 25 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pans to a wire rack; cool completely (about 1 hour).
• Prepare Frosting:
• Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar to butter mixture; beat at low speed just until blended. (Do not overbeat.) Beat in up to 2 tsp. milk for desired consistency. Place 1 cake layer on a serving plate; spread with 2/3 cup frosting, and top with remaining cake layer. Spread remaining frosting over top and sides of cake.
• Try This Twist!
• Carrot Cake Muffins: Omit Frosting. Place about 15 paper baking cups in muffin pans, and coat with cooking spray. Prepare batter, and fold in 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans and 1/2 cup golden raisins with carrots. Spoon batter into baking cups, filling about two-thirds full. Bake as directed. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes about 15 muffins.
• Per serving: Calories 204; Fat 7.3g (sat 1g, mono 2.6g, poly 3.4g); Protein 3.8g; Carb 31.9g; Fiber 1.9g; Chol 28mg; Iron 1.2mg; Sodium 356mg; Calc 23mg