BEST FROSTING FOR CAKE RECIPES

Steps:

• First prepare the cake.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Combine all cake ingredients (brown sugar, oil, eggs, flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, carrots and pecans) in a large bowl.
• Pour batter into a 13x9 inch cake pan or two 8 inch round cake pans that have been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes (if using 13x9) or until toothpick comes out clean but cake is still moist.
• Allow cake to cool and prepare cream cheese frosting.
• In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla.
• Cover cooled cake with frosting, slice and serve.
• You may want to keep it in the fridge if you aren't going to be eating it right away because of the cream cheese in the frosting.

Steps:

• grease bottom and sides of pan (I use 2 round 10inch pans or 1 9 by 13). preheat oven to 350 degrees. I would even suggest lining the bottom with parchment paper and then spraying.
• Combine flour,  cocoa, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside. 
• In a separate bowl beat butter for 30 seconds or so. slowly add sugar.
• Add eggs 1 at a time beating after each one. Beat in vanilla.
• Add dry ingredients beating after each addition.
• Add 1/2 of the milk, beat. Then add the other 1/2. Beat just until everything is combined nicely.
• Spread batter about into pans making them about 2/3 full. You may have remaining batter (I sometimes make a few cupcakes.)
• Bake for 30-35 minutes for round pans, 5 min longer or so for the 9 by 13 pan. Watch it though! a knife coming out clean from the center means it is done. NOTE: Many readers are finding they need to increase the baking time. This is probably due to the difference in ovens, pans, and elevation. Always go by the way the cake looks and if the cake is done in the center.