The Dover's

 This is a MUST have recipe if you like Carrot Cake!  Melinda Anderson made it for a RS dinner and I only eat carrot cake if it's good... I don't like the taste of pineapple overpowering the carrots... definitely don't like a dry carrot cake... and it needs a good amount of frosting... So this really is the perfect carrot cake recipe! It's AMAZING. It's so moist and perfectly flavored.  Ger fell in love too!  Thanks so much Melinda!  So here's the recipe- not too hard just takes some time... and yes I need some major practice on cake frosting and decorating!  :-)

Carrot Cake
Cake: 

2 cups all-purpose flour 

2 teaspoons baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon salt 

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 

3 large eggs 

2 cups sugar 

3/4 cup vegetable oil 

3/4 cup buttermilk 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

2 cups grated carrot 

1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained 

1 (3 1/2-ounce) can flaked coconut 

1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts 

 Line 3 (9-inch) round cakepans with wax paper; lightly grease and flour wax paper. Set pans aside.

Stir together first 4 ingredients.
Beat eggs and next 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add flour mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Fold in carrot and next 3 ingredients. Pour batter into prepared cakepans.
Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Drizzle Buttermilk Glaze evenly over layers; cool in pans on wire racks 15 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool completely on wire racks. *Can substitute 1/3 cup sweetened coconut flakes from bag for canned flaked coconut 

Glaze: 

 1 cup sugar 

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 

1/2 cup buttermilk 

1/2 cup butter or margarine 

1 tablespoon light corn syrup 

1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

 Bring first 5 ingredients to a boil oven over medium-high heat. Boil, stirring often, 4 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla. 

Cream Cheese Frosting: 

3/4 cup butter 

1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened 

1 (3-ounce) pachage cream cheese, softened 

3 cups sifted powdered sugar 

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 

 Spread Cream Cheese Frosting between layers and on top and sides of cake.  Add chopped walnuts if desired.