Momofuku Milk Bar Carrot Layer Cake

Step 1

Heat oven to 350F.

Step 2

Combine the butter and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream together on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, or 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl and add the eggs. Mix again on medium-high speed for another 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the bowl again.

Step 3

On low speed, pour in the oil. Increase the speed to medium-high and mix for 4-6 minutes, or until white and fluffy with no streaks of fat. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Step 4

Add in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix on low speed for 1 minute or just until the dry ingredients become fully incorporated. Scrape down the bowl again and fold in the shredded carrots with a spatula.

Step 5

Spray a quarter sheet pan with cooking spray and line with parchment paper. Spread the cake batter in an even layer in the pan.

Step 6

Bake for 25-30 minutes or until the cake is no longer jiggly in the middle and bounces back slightly when touched.

Step 7

Remove from the oven and cool completely on a wire rack.

Step 8

Heat oven to 300F.

Step 9

Put the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Cream together on medium-high speed for 3-4 minutes, or until light and fluffy.

Step 10

In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, salt, and milk. Add the egg to the slurry and whisk until combined. Slowly pour into the stand mixer bowl and mix on medium-low speed for 3-4 minutes, or until mixture is smooth and loose. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Step 11

Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with plastic wrap. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for 15 minutes. The cheesecake should be firm on the edges, but jiggly and loose in the center. Remove from the oven and cool completely.

Step 12

Heat oven to 250F.

Step 13

Combine ½ cup of the milk powder, the flour, cornstarch, sugar, and salt in a medium bowl. Stir int he melted butter until the mixture starts to form small clusters.Spread the clusters on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes. Cool completely.

Step 14

Crumble the larger crumbs so that all of them are less than ½-inch in size. Place in a medium bowl and toss with the remaining milk powder. Pour the white chocolate over the mixture and toss to combine.

Step 15

In a medium bowl, toss together the graham cracker crumbs, milk powder, sugar, and ⅜ tsp salt.

Step 16

In a separate small bowl, whisk together the butter and heavy cream. Pour into the dry ingredients and toss to evenly distribute.

Step 17

In a blender, combine the graham batter, milk, and remaining ½ tsp salt. Turn the speed to medium-high and puree until completely smooth.

Step 18

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together the butter, sugars, and cinnamon on medium-high speed, until fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add in the contents of the blender. Cream together on low speed for 1 minute, then on medium-high speed for the next 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

Step 19

Place a piece of parchment paper on your workspace and invert the cake onto that paper. Peel off the parchment from the bottom of the cake. Using a 6-inch cake ring, stamp out 2 circles from the cake. These will be the two top layers while the rest of the cake scraps will form the bottom layer.

Step 20

To make the first layer, clean the cake ring and place it on a piece of parchment paper. Use 1 20-inch long strip of acetate to line the inside of the cake ring.

Step 21

Put the cake scraps inside the ring and press them into a flat, even layer. Dunk a pastry brush in the milk and brush half of the milk onto the top of the cake. Top with half of the liquid cheesecake, followed by ⅓ of the milk crumbs and ⅓ of the graham frosting.

Step 22

Gently tuck a second 20-inch strip of acetate into the cake ring. Set one of the cake rounds on top of the frosting. Repeat the process for layer 1.

Step 23

Place the final cake round on top of the frosting. Cover with the remaining graham frosting and milk crumbs.

Step 24

Refrigerate or freeze for 12 hours or overnight.

Step 25

At least 3 hours before you are ready to serve the cake, remove from the refrigerator. Remove the cake ring and peel off the acetate. Transfer to a platter or cake stand and serve.