Carrot Raisin Cake with Irish Cream Frosting

Makes one 2-layer cake

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons double-acting baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
4 large eggs
2 1/2 cups finely grated carrot
1/2 cup raisins
2 teaspoons freshly grated orange zest
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
Irish Cream Frosting

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour two 8-inch round cake pans.

In a bowl combine well the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice.

In another bowl with an electric mixer cream the butter with the brown sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, and beat the mixture until it is smooth. Add carrot, raisins and zest and combine the mixture well. Stir in the flour mixture alternately with the orange juice in two batches and stir the batter until it is combined well.

Divide the batter between the prepared cake pans, spreading it evenly, and bake the layers in the middle of the oven for 40 to 45 minutes or less, or until a tester comes out clean and the edges begin to pull away from the sides of the pans.

Let the layers cool in the pans for 20 minutes, invert them onto racks and let them cool completely. The cake layers may be made 1 day in advance and kept, wrapped well, at room temperature.

Invert one of the cake layers onto a plate, spread one third of the frosting on top, and top it with the second layer. Spread three fourths of the remaining frosting on the side of the cake decoratively and reserve the remaining frosting in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Put a paper doily on top of the cake, sift the confectioners' sugar over it, and remove the doily carefully. Pipe the reserved frosting decoratively around the edge of the cake.

Irish Cream Frosting
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
2 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur or heavy cream
Confectioners' sugar for sifting over the cake

In a bowl with an electric mixer cream the butter until it is smooth. Beat in the confectioners' sugar gradually. Beat in the salt and Irish cream liqueur. Beat the frosting until it is light and fluffy.