Moist Carrot Cake

This carrot cake - baked with walnuts, rum-soaked sultanas and coconut - makes a lovely, lighter alternative to a rich fruit cake. Once the cake is baked, it is spiked with a fresh citrus syrup, which helps keep it moist and fruity. So, too, does the use of sunflower oil, and because the recipe uses no dairy products, it is suitable for guests with a dairy intolerance. I used this recipe for the wedding cake I designed and made for Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Smith and - at their request