Peanut Butter Chip Carrot Cake

Ingredients

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• 1¼ tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp salt
• 3 eggs
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups shredded carrot
• 1⅔ cups (10-oz pkg) reese's peanut butter chips
• ½ cup chopped walnuts
• additional chopped walnuts (optional)
• 2 package (3 oz.) softened cream cheese
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter or margarine
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Procedures

1. Heat oven to 350 °F. Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
2. Stir together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in large bowl.
3. In small bowl, stir together eggs, oil and 1½ tsp vanilla; stir into dry ingredients, blending well.
4. Stir in carrot, peanut butter chips and ½ cup walnuts.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
8. Frost with cream cheese FROSTING.
9. Garnish with walnuts, if desired. 12 to 15 servings.

Frosting

1. Beat butter and cream cheese until well blended
2. Gradually add powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract, beating to spreading consistency.

Variations

• Substitute 2 cups (12-oz pkg) hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips or hershey's mini chips semi-sweet chocolate for the peanut butter chips.
• Substitute 1 cup Raisins for the chopped walnuts.
• Peanut butter chip carrot CUPCAKES:
  • Line muffin cups (2-½ inches in diameter) with paper bake cups.
  • Fill muffin cups ¾ full with batter.
  • Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Recipe reprinted with permission by Hershey's Kitchens