Good Morning Carrot Coffee Cake w/Cream Cheese Icing

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This coffee cake is based on the Morning Glory muffins, which have lots of healthy stuff...at least that's what I tell myself. Yes, the ingredients list is long. But, honestly, the bulk of the prep work is shredding the carrot and the apple and mashing the banana. Some may say, "This is really a carrot cake posing as a coffee cake." And? ☺

Good Morning Carrot Coffee Cake w/Cream Cheese Icing

Coffee Cake
¾ cup unbleached flour
¾ cup whole wheat flour
1 tsp cinnamon
⅛ tsp ground ginger
½ tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup brown sugar
4 Tbsp butter or margarine, softened
1 egg
¾ cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 small ripe banana, mashed
¼ cup apple, shredded*
½ cup carrot, finely shredded
½ cup raisins
¼ cup flaked coconut

*I didn't peel the apple, but you can if you want to.

Topping
½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
½ cup all-purpose flour
½ tsp cinnamon
2 Tbsp cold butter
½ cup chopped nuts (optional)

Icing
½ cup powdered sugar
2 Tbsp cream cheese, softened
1-2 Tbsp milk or water
½ tsp vanilla

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Instructions
Generously grease a 9x9 pan. Heat oven to 350° F.

For the topping
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour and sugar mixture until pea-sized chunks form. Set aside.

For the cake
Combine unbleached flour, whole wheat flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, cream together sugar, brown sugar and butter. Add egg and mix thoroughly. Alternately add buttermilk and flour mixture beginning and ending with flour. Stir. Add carrot, apple, banana, raisins, coconut, and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly. Pour into greased pan. Sprinkle with topping. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Cool completely before icing.

For the icing
Mix together powdered sugar, cream cheese, and vanilla. Add milk or water one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached. Drizzle over coffee cake.

Inspiration recipe(s): Morning Glory Muffins

Enjoy!

~CD