My Favorite Carrot Cake Recipe

INGREDIENTS

3 cups

(390g) Diamond of California chopped pecans or pecan pieces (1 cup for cake, 2 cups for garnish)

and 1/2 cups (300g) packed light or dark brown sugar (I prefer dark)

1/2 cup

granulated sugar

1 cup

vegetable or canola oil

large eggs

3/4 cup

smooth unsweetened applesauce1

1 tsp

vanilla extract

and 1/2 cups (312g) all-purpose flour (measured correctly)

2 tsp

baking powder

1 tsp

baking soda

1/2 tsp

salt

and 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 tsp

ground ginger

1/4 tsp

ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp

ground cloves

2 cups

grated carrots (about 4 large)