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Brazilian-Style Chocolate-Glazed Carrot Cake

12 to 14 Servings

1½ hours 30 minutes active, plus cooling

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The Brazilian baked sweet bolo de cenoura—which translates from the Portuguese as, simply, “carrot cake”—is a homey, nearly failsafe dessert that finishes a brilliantly hued orange cake with a glossy chocolate glaze. To make the batter, raw carrots, sugar, oil and eggs are blitzed in a blender, then whisked into dry ingredients. We swapped in coconut cream for some of the oil to give the crumb rich, tropical notes and added orange zest to brighten the flavor. It’s best to measure the carrots by weight; too much makes the cake heavy and dense. The classic glaze is similar to the Brazilian chocolate truffle confections called brigadeiros, but we opted for an easier mixture of chocolate thinned with orange juice. Though we usually prefer bittersweet chocolate, the milder flavor of semisweet is better here. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to three days.

12 to 14

Servings

Tip

Don’t use regular nonstick cooking spray instead of baking spray, as the cake has a tendency to stick. If you don’t have baking spray, mix 2 tablespoons flour and 1½ tablespoons oil to form a thin paste, then use a pastry brush or paper towel to coat the entire inside of the pan. Be sure to use coconut cream, not cream of coconut or coconut milk. And don’t skip straining any pulp out of the orange juice.

1½ hours

30 minutes active, plus cooling

For the cake:

  • 260

    grams (2 cups) all-purpose flour

Directions

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Reviews
MARY C.
February 15, 2024
Surprisingly easy
I found some cheap tangerines so used those for oranges and it worked out great due to lots more flavor. I was shocked that the blender portion of this whipped up so liquidy (if that is even a word, LOL). I added everything else, beat it well, then added the carrots. Easy peasy. Cooked up gorgeous, chocolate icing was easy also. Very moist and tasty with a beautiful color. Took this easy to transport cake to a dinner and go rave reviews all around.
Marla H.
March 20, 2024
Sub Greek yogurt for coconut cream?
Any thoughts on replacing the coconut cream with regular or Greek yogurt? Would love to try this but are having to watch our saturated fats. And no, just eating a smaller portion is not an option:)
Jennifer R.
March 6, 2024
Delicious cake
This cake was very moist and easy to make. I did find that the chocolate orange glaze dominated the flavors. My husband was not able to taste the carrot at all and felt that the coconut was subtle.
James P.
February 7, 2024
Question about sour cream
If I prefer to use sour cream in lieu of coconut cream, what amount should I use? is it a one-to-one substitution?
Sarah H.
January 27, 2024
Brilliant winter cake
A foolproof recipe, weights allow for easy measuring - deliciously orange and chocolate, reminded us of Christmas candies. The carrot is light, sweet, and moist. The cooling instructions made for a perfect pan extraction (no sticking!) and what an excellent ganache - the ease of this cake and perfect execution felt a bit like cheating. Will definitely make again.