This is a decadent dessert recipe for Thanksgiving dinner that won’t break the bank and will save you time in the kitchen. Carrot Cake Cheesecake is a scrumptious holiday treat with the added sweetness of pineapple frosting. This recipe is courtesy of Duncan Hines.  

photo courtesy of Duncan Hines

Ingredients – Carrot Cake:
• 1 box Duncan Hines Decadent Carrot Cake
• 1 cup hot tap water (for soaking carrots and raisins)
• 2 eggs
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 8 ½ oz can crushed pineapple, packed in juice, drained well, reserve juice
• ½ cup coconut (optional)
• ½ cup chopped walnuts           

Ingredients – Cheese Cake Filling:
• 2 – 8 oz pkg. cream cheese
• ¾ cup sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 1 tablespoon flourBaking

Instructions For Carrot Cake:
Soak carrots and raisins in 1 cup HOT tap water, allow to stand for 5 mins. Drain and squeeze out excess water from carrots and raisins. In mixing bowl add dry mix, 2 eggs, ¼ cup oil. Add well drained carrots, raisins and pineapple. Add coconut and walnuts. Mix well by hand. Spread 2 cups of carrot cake on bottom of a greased 9-9 ½ Springform pan. Reserve remaining carrot cake. Backing Instructions For Cheesecake:In large bowl beat cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth. Beat in eggs and flour. Spread ½ of the cheesecake batter on top of the carrot cake. Spoon on remaining carrot cake and top with remaining cheese cake batter. Do not marble with knife. Bake in a 350° preheated oven for 50-60 mins or until cake is set and cooked through. Cool to room temperature. When cake is cooled frost with Pineapple Cream Cheese frosting (see recipe below). Or top with Duncan Hines Cream Cheese Frosting. Refrigerate for 3 hours and serve chilled.

Ingredients – Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:
• 2 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1 tablespoon butter (softened)
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 T pineapple juice

Baking Instructions For Cream Cheese Frosting:           
Beat Cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and pineapple juice until smooth. Beat in powder sugar until smooth. Frost top of cheesecake.

Easter is coming. Here is one of our favorite Bunny Cake recipes from BettyCrocker.com!
Preparation time: 30 min.
Total time: 2 hrs and 10 min.
Servings: 12

Easter Bunny Cake from BettyCrocker.com

Ingredients:

1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® carrot cake mix
Water, vegetable oil and eggs called for on cake mix box
Tray or cardboard, covered with foil
1 container Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting
1 cup shredded coconut
Construction paper
Jelly beans or small gumdrops
1 cup shredded coconut
Green food color

Instructions:

1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pans). Make and cool cake as directed on box for two 8-inch or 9-inch round pans.

2. Reserve 1 layer for another use or to make a second bunny. Cut 1 layer in half as shown in diagram. Put halves together with frosting to form body. Place cake upright on cut edge on tray.

3. Cut out a notch about one-third of the way up one end of body to form head (small end) as shown in diagram. Attach half of cutout piece from tail with toothpicks. Frost with remaining frosting, rounding body on sides. Sprinkle with 1 cup coconut. Cut ears from construction paper; press into notch on top. Use jelly beans for eyes and nose.

4. Shake 1 cup coconut and 3 drops food color in tightly covered jar until evenly tinted. Surround bunny with tinted coconut. Add additional jelly beans if desired. Store loosely covered.

High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Follow High Altitude directions on cake mix box for two 8- or 9-inch round pans.

Source: Find more recipes at www.bettycrocker.com.