Fat-free carrot cake - country living

16 servings

Ingredients

QuantityIngredient
3cupsUnsifted cake flour
2teaspoonsBaking powder
1teaspoonBaking soda
1teaspoonGround cinnamon
1teaspoonGround nutmeg
½teaspoonSalt
1can(16-oz) Bartlett pear halves in unsweetened juice
cupFirmly packed light-brown sugar
3largesEgg whites
1tablespoonFinely grated orange rind
3tablespoonsOrange juice
2cupsCoarsely shredded carrots
1cupChopped fresh strawberries
1teaspoonConfectioners' sugar
Carrot tops (opt.)

Directions

1. In large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; set aside. Drain pears, reserving juice for another use. In food processor fitted with chopping blade, process pears until smooth; set aside.

2. Heat oven to 350'F. Generously grease a 9-inch decorative tube pan. In large bowl, with electric mixer on medium speed, beat pear puree, brown sugar, and egg whites until well blended, scraping bowl occasionally with rubber spatula.

3. Reduce mixer speed to low; beat in flour mixture, orange rind, and juice just until flour mixture is moistened. Do not overheat. With rubber spatula, fold in carrots and strawberries until well mixed.

Pour into prepared pan.

4. Bake 45 to 55 minutes or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Invert cake onto wire rack and remove pan; cool cake completely.

5. Just before serving, transfer cake to serving plate. Place confectioners' sugar in small strainer and sift over top of cake.

Garnish plate with carrot tops, if desired.

Country Living/August/94 Scanned & fixed by Di Pahl & <gg>