This recipe is based off the one from Stephanie Alexander's The Cook’s Companion. I add carrot's best pals cardamom and ginger, more walnuts, and put different stuff on top. I reckon that buttery icing most people put on carrot cake overpowers it.
The photo makes it look a bit shit :(
Ingredients
125g self-raising flour.
¾ cup brown sugar.
½ tsp. cinnamon.
½ tsp. nutmeg.
1 tsp. cardamom (or more).
½ tsp. ginger.
⅔ cup olive oil.
2 lightly beaten eggs.
2 cups grated carrot (should be two big carrots).
100g busted-up walnuts (at least) (I just crush them in my hand, pieces no bigger than half a nut).
Sesame seeds
Method
Preheat oven to 180℃.
Mix flour, sugar, and spices.
Mix in oil and eggs.
Mix in carrot and walnuts.
Pour into tin that's papered/greased/etc.
Sprinkle seeds and nuts on top. I like sesame seeds and walnuts broken into small pieces. My partner uses pepitas, which is nice too.
Bung it in the oven for half an hour to an hour.
Notes
My oven's got its own ideas about things, so I set it to 200℃, and cook for and hour and a half.
Pepper might be nice.
Saw another carrot cake recipe using wholemeal flour, which I'll try.