Chocolate Chip Carrot Cake Recipe

This moist carrot cake is studded with bittersweet chocolate chips and toasted hazelnuts glazed in bittersweet 72% ganache and surrounded by a dark chocolate chip cream cheese frosting made with 100% dark chocolate.

Servings Size: 18 Carrot mini cakes

Cake Ingredients:

sugar                                                    2 cups
salt                                                       1 teaspoon
bread or high gluten flour              1 1/2 cups
ground cinnamon                                   2 teaspoons
baking powder                                       1/2 teaspoon
baking soda                                           1/4 teaspoon
eggs                                                      4 each
oil                                                         8 fluid ounces   
grated fresh carrots                                4 medium carrots, topped, peeled, grated (box grater)
toasted chopped hazelnuts                       3/4 cup
91% E. Guittard Chocolate shavings         1/3 cup

Instructions:

1.  Coat two 9×9 square (“brownie”) pan with a light film of fat and line with parchment paper.
2.  Combine sugar and salt.  Sift together flour, cinnamon, powder, soda.
3.  Whip eggs using the whip attachment on medium speed until thick, about 8 to 10 minutes.  Increase the mixer speed to high and continue whipping until the eggs thicken to the ribbon stage, about 8 to 10 minutes.
4.  Gradually add the oil, whipping on high speed until evenly blended.
5.  Gradually add sugar, whipping at medium speed.  Add the sifted flour mixture, mixing on low speed until just incorporated.
6.  With a spatula, fold in the grated carrots and chopped hazelnuts, chocolate shavings.
7.  Scale 12 oz. batter into each prepared pan.
8.  Bake 350F/50 minutes.  Allow cake to cool at room temperature for at least an hour and chill.  A cold cake will be easier to cut for the mini cakes. 
9.  Cut out cakes with a 2 inch round cutter and place on a glazing rack.  Set aside and prepare the Sour Cream Ganache glaze.

Yield:  2 9×9 square pans, 9 2-inch mini cakes can be cut from each pan (so the total yield is 18)

Sour Cream Ganache Glaze

Ingredients:

E. Guittard unsweetened chocolate, 100%        1/3 cup
E. Guittard bittersweet chocolate, 70%             1/4 cup
unsalted butter                                               6 Tablespoons
sour cream                                                     1/4 cup
powdered or confectioners’ sugar                      1 cup, sifted

Instructions:

1.  Melt butter in a medium sized sauce pot. 
2.  In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, place sour cream and sifted sugar. 
3.  Bring butter just to a boil and add chocolate, stirring constantly so as not to burn.  Lower heat and mix continuously.  Bring mixture to 170F.
4.  Add chocolate to mixer and mix slowly to incorporate.  Increase the speed and mix to emulsify.  Scrape down very well and mix on speed 3 for 3 minutes. 
5.  Pour the glaze over each cake.  The ganache is thick so tap the wrack to help the glaze and make sure to cover the sides of the cakes.  With a small spatula, smooth out the sides of each cake.  Chill cakes to firm ganache.  Remove cakes from rack and store in the refrigerator until the Cream Cheese Icing is complete.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Ingredients:  All ingredients should be room temperature to ensure a smooth icing with no lumps.

cream cheese                                    12 ounces         
butter                                                 1 stick or 8 Tablespoons
sour cream                                        1/2 Tablespoon
powdered sugar                               1 1/3 cups, sifted
91% E. Guittard Chocolate shavings     1/3 cup

Instructions: 
1.  Mix together cream cheese and butter in a bowl fitted with a paddle attachment.  Add sour cream, scraping well. 
2.  Add powdered sugar.  Mix and scrape bowl.
3.  Add chocolate shavings and mix.
4.  On a sheet pan lined with parchment paper, line ring molds with acetate.  Spread a thin even layer onto acetate.  Line rings again with the icing-acetate in place.
5.  Using a small piping bag, pipe a ring of icing around the bottom of each ring.
6.  Place a chocolate glazed carrot cake inside of each mold.
7.  Using a piping bag with a small round tip, fill in the space surrounding each cake.  With a small spatula, smooth the top and level.
8.  Freeze cakes.