Peanut Butter Chip Carrot Cake

Ingredients

 * 1½ cups all-purpose flour
 * ¾ cup granulated sugar
 * ½ cup packed light brown sugar
 * 1¼ tsp baking soda
 * 1 tsp ground cinnamon
 * ½ tsp salt
 * 3 eggs
 * ¾ cup vegetable oil
 * 1½ tsp vanilla extract
 * 2 cups shredded carrot
 * 1⅔ cups (10-oz pkg) reese's peanut butter chips
 * ½ cup chopped walnuts
 * additional chopped walnuts (optional)
 * 1 package (3 oz.) softened cream cheese
 * ¼ cup (½ stick) softened butter or margarine
 * 2 cups powdered sugar
 * 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

 * 1) Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour 13x9x2-inch baking pan.
 * 2) Stir together flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in large bowl.
 * 3) In small bowl, stir together eggs, oil and 1½ tsp vanilla; stir into dry ingredients, blending well.
 * 4) Stir in carrot, peanut butter chips and ½ cup walnuts.
 * 5) Pour batter into prepared pan.
 * 6) Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.
 * 7) Cool completely in pan on wire rack.
 * 8) Frost with cream cheese FROSTING.
 * 9) Garnish with walnuts, if desired. 12 to 15 servings.


 * Frosting
 * 1) Beat butter and cream cheese until well blended
 * 2) Gradually add powdered sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract, beating to spreading consistency.


 * Variations
 * Substitute 2 cups (12-oz pkg) hershey's semi-sweet chocolate chips or hershey's mini chips semi-sweet chocolate for the peanut butter chips.
 * Substitute 1 cup Raisins for the chopped walnuts.
 * Peanut butter chip carrot CUPCAKES:
 * Line muffin cups (2-½ inches in diameter) with paper bake cups.
 * Fill muffin cups ¾ full with batter.
 * Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

Recipe reprinted with permission by Hershey's Kitchens