Cream Cheese Stuffed Carrot Cake with Orange Glaze 🥕🍰🍊:

Ingredients 🥕
– For the Carrot Cake:
– 2 cups all-purpose flour 🍞
– 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 🧁
– 1 teaspoon baking soda 🧁
– 1/2 teaspoon salt 🧂
– 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 🌿
– 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 🌿
– 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 🌿
– 1 cup granulated sugar 🧂
– 1 cup packed brown sugar 🧂
– 1 cup vegetable oil 🫒
– 4 large eggs 🥚
– 2 cups finely grated carrots 🥕
– 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained 🍍
– 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) 🥜

– For the Cream Cheese Filling:
– 8 oz cream cheese, softened 🧀
– 1/2 cup granulated sugar 🧂
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 🍰

– For the Orange Glaze:
– 1 cup powdered sugar 🧂
– 2-3 tablespoons fresh orange juice 🍊
– 1 teaspoon orange zest 🍊

Preparation 🍳
1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or line them with parchment paper. 🕒🔥

2. Prepare Cream Cheese Filling: In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside. 🧀🧂🍰

3. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. 🍞🧁🧂🌿

4. Mix Wet Ingredients: In another large bowl, beat together the granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until combined. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and chopped nuts if using. 🧂🫒🥚🥕🍍🥜

5. Combine Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. 🥕🍞

6. Assemble Cake: Divide half of the cake batter evenly between the prepared pans. Dollop the cream cheese filling evenly over the batter in both pans, then top with the remaining cake batter. Smooth the tops with a spatula. 🍰🧀

7. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes comes out clean. 🕒🍽️

8. Cool and Prepare Glaze: Allow the cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest until smooth. Adjust the consistency with more orange juice if needed. 🧂🍊

9. Glaze and Serve: Once the cakes are completely cool, drizzle the orange glaze over the top. Slice and serve your Cream Cheese Stuffed Carrot Cake! 😋🍽️