CAKE MIX AND DIET SODA RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Oil and line the base and sides of two 20cm cake tins with baking parchment. Whisk the oil, yogurt, eggs, vanilla and zest in a jug. Mix the flour, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg with a good pinch of salt in a bowl. Squeeze any lumps of sugar through your fingers, shaking the bowl a few times to bring the lumps to the surface.
• Add the wet ingredients to the dry, along with the carrots, raisins and half the nuts, if using. Mix well to combine, then divide between the tins.
• Bake for 25-30 mins or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. If any wet mixture clings to the skewer, return to the oven for 5 mins, then check again. Leave to cool in the tins.
• To make the icing, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth. Add half the soft cheese and beat again, then add the rest (adding it bit by bit prevents the icing from splitting). Remove the cakes from the tins and sandwich together with half the icing. Top with the remaining icing and scatter with the remaining walnuts. Will keep in the fridge for up to five days. Best eaten at room temperature.

Steps:

• For the cake: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Generously grease and flour a fluted 10- to 12-cup Bundt pan.
• Beat the granulated sugar and butter together in a bowl with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the flour 1 cup at a time, blending well after each addition, until the batter is smooth; stir in the lemon extract. Mix the lemon-lime soda into the batter and pour into the prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
• For the glaze: Beat the confectioners' sugar, milk, lemon-lime soda and extracts together in a bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until the glaze is smooth.
• Pierce holes in the cake with a skewer. Pour 1/4 cup glaze over the cake. Flip the cake onto a serving plate to remove from the pan, then pour the remaining glaze on top. The cake can be served immediately, but tastes even better the longer it sits.