FTF: Carrot Cake

It was hubby's birthday last Sunday. He just turned 45. His favorite cake of all is carrot cake, and so I made him one for the first time out of scratch. For a first timer, this cake turned out to be very good. I got a recipe from allrecipes.com, but decreased the sugar in the cake itself as well as the frosting.

Ingredients:

3 eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 (8 ounce) can crushed pineapple with juice
1 cup raisins

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8x12 inch pan.

2. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs, buttermilk, oil, sugar and vanilla. Mix well. Add flour mixture and mix well.
4. In a medium bowl, combine shredded carrots, coconut, walnuts, pineapple and raisins.
5. Using a large wooden spoon or a very heavy whisk, add carrot mixture to batter and fold in well.
6. Pour into prepared 8x12 inch pan, and bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 1 hour. Check with toothpick.
7. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Frosting:

* 3 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
* 1 (8 ounce) package Neufchatel cheese
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 1 cup chopped pecans

To Make Frosting: In a medium bowl, combine confectioners' sugar, Neufchatel cheese, 1/2 cup butter or margarine and 1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla. Beat until smooth, then stir in 1 cup chopped pecans. Spread on cooled cake.