Carrot Raisin Bread

This recipe comes from Top Secret Restaurant Recipes 2 by Todd Wilbur. I love this book! Mr. Wilbur has created mimics of some of the best dishes at restaurants like Cheesecake Factory, PF Changs, Mimi's Cafe (which this bread imitates), etc. The recipes in the book are not the actual recipes; instead, he has invented them through experimentation and they're are pretty much spot on! This is by far the tastiest carrot bread ever. It cooks for an hour and it will fill up your home with the most mouth-watering aroma. If you like a good, thick bread, this one is for you. And for the health-conscious, there's no butter or chocolate in this one (although a good smathering of butter on each piece is the only way to go).

HELPFUL HINTS

1. Make sure to use a toothpick to ensure the middle is cooked. This bread cooks quickly on the outside but takes a bit longer to cook on the inside.

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
3/4 tsp salt
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup plus 2 Tbs granulated sugar
3 eggs
3 Tbs molasses
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup shredded carrots
1/4 cup crushed pineapple
1 cup raisins
3/4 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter 2, 8 inch loaf pans and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
3. Combine flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

















4. In another bowl, combine oil, sugar, eggs, molasses, and vanilla with an electric mixer.

















5. Add shredded carrots and pineapple and continue to mix.

















6. Add raisins and walnuts and mix well by hand.

















7. Pour flour mixture into the other ingredients and stir until combined.

















8. Pour batter into loaf pans.

















9. Bake for 60 minutes or until done.
10. Cool on a rack just slightly as the bread is best warm!