Cake ingredients: – 2½ cups all-purpose flour – 2 teaspoons baking powder – 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon – ½ teaspoon salt – 1 cup sugar – ½ cup butter, softened – 2 large eggs – ⅔ cup buttermilk – 1 cup finely grated carrots  – ½ cup finely chopped walnuts

Icing ingredients: – 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened – ⅓ cup butter, softened – 3½ cups powdered sugar – ½ teaspoon vanilla – 2 teaspoons orange juice – Zest of one orange

Use a hand mixer to beat together the sugar and softened butter until smooth and creamy. Add the eggs and beat until combined. Beat in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt alternately with the buttermilk. Stir in the carrots and walnuts.  Drop the batter in 2 tablespoon sized mounds on a baking sheet.

Bake at 350°F for 12–14 minutes, or until the centers no longer look wet.  Let cool for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Use a hand mixer to beat together the softened cream cheese and softened butter until smooth. Beat in the vanilla, orange juice, and orange zest. Add the powdered sugar and beat until combined.

Spread icing on the flat side of one cake. Top with a similarly sized cake. Repeat with the remaining cakes to create Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies!