Carrot Cake (Torta Di Carote)

Tired of oil-filled cream-cheese frosted carrot cakes? Then try this one -- no added oil, and an amazing almond marzipan-like flavor.

This simple cake has only six ingredients: eggs, sugar, carrots, almond flour, rum, and ground up amaretti cookies. Six eggs are separated, the yolks mixed with sugar and the remaining ingredients, and then egg whites are beaten and folded in. The cake bakes in a 9 x 12 pan, meaning it could serve a crowd.

The texture was amazingly light. The cake was beautiful with little orange flecks from the shredded carrot. A wonderful crunchy crust formed on the top. There is a lot to love about this cake.

I did have trouble telling if it was done, and it required at least 10 additional minutes to bake.

I was delighted to be able to give a piece to my neighbor, who cannot tolerate gluten. It was a simple and unusual recipe, and something I will undoubtedly make again.