Healthier Carrot Cake

(Courtesy of Allrecipes)

Ingredients:
4 eggs
3/4 c. vegetable oil
1 1/2 c. white sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. whole wheat pastry flour
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
3 c. grated carrots
1 c. chopped pecans
FROSTING:
1/4 c. butter, softened
1 pkg. (8 oz.) Neufchatel cheese, softened
2 c. confectioners' sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. chopped pecans

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease and flour a 9x13 pan.

In a bowl, beat together eggs, oil, white sugar and 2 tsp. vanilla.  Mix in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.  Stir in carrots.  Fold in pecans.  Pour into prepared pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto a wire rack to cool completely.

To make frosting, in a medium bowl, combine butter, Neufchatel cheese, confectioners' sugar and 1 tsp. vanilla extract.  Beat until the mixture is smooth and creamy.  Stir in chopped pecans.  Frost the cooled cake.

Note~  This has 399 calories per serving.