Recipe: BA’s Best Carrot Cake

Ingredients

• Nonstick vegetable oil spray
• ½ cup golden raisins (optional)
• 3 tablespoons dark rum (optional)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 pound carrots, peeled, coarsely grated
• 1 cup buttermilk, room temperature
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• ½ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (packed) dark brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ cup vegetable oil
• 12 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
• ¾ cup (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Generous pinch of kosher salt
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• Candied Carrot Coins (optional)