Best Carrot Cake Ever

ETA Picture of Bookworm's cake...

I sit here enjoying a last piece of Bookworm's birthday cake with a glass of milk and I thought I'd share the recipe with you. My mom first made this cake to celebrate Bookworm's RE-birthday a few years ago, and it was a hit with everyone. The birthday girl requested any cake with cream cheese frosting (a girl after my own heart) so I chose this one as I have not made it before. The unique aspect of this carrot cake recipe is the Buttermilk glaze that is poured over the hot cake, giving the cake an incredibly moist, almost candy-like texture. Enjoy!

Best Carrot Sheet Cake
From Southern Living March 2003

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
2 cups sugar
3/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated carrots (about 3 large carrots)
1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (3 1/2-ounce) can sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Stir together first 4 ingredients. Beat eggs and next 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Fold in carrots and next 3 ingredients. Pour batter into a greased and floured 13- x 9-inch pan. [I baked the cake in 3 9 inch layer round pans.] Bake at 350° for 30 minutes; cover pan loosely with aluminum foil to prevent excessive browning, and bake 13 more minutes or until a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean. Drizzle Buttermilk Glaze evenly over cake; cool completely in pan. Spread Cream Cheese Frosting evenly over cake.
Yield: Makes 10 to 12 servings

Buttermilk Glaze
From Southern Living

1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bring sugar, baking soda, butter, buttermilk, and corn syrup to a boil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring often, 4 minutes or until mixture is golden brown. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla extract.

Cream Cheese Frosting
From Southern Living

1/2 cup butter, softened
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1 (16-ounce) package powdered sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract; beat at high speed 10 seconds or until smooth.
Yield: Makes 4 cups