1 Cup (2 Sticks) Unsalted butter, room temperature
1 3/4 Cups Sugar
1/4 Cup Firmly Packed Dark Brown Sugar
4 Lg. Egg Yolks
1 3/4 Cups Grated Carrots (about 2 Lg.)
1 Cup Pecans (about 3 ounces), chopped
5 Lg. Egg Whites
Pinch of Salt
Powdered Sugar
Ice Cream (optional)
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour 10-inch-diameter tube or bundt pan. Mix first 9 ingredients in medium bowl. Mix milk and vanilla in another bowl.
Using electric mixer, beat butter and 1 3/4 cups sugar in large bowl until light and fluffy. Add brown sugar and beat until smooth, about two minutes. Add yolks 1 at a time and beat after each addition. Stir in flour mixture alternately with milk mixture. Mix carrots and chopped pecans into batter.
Using clean dry beater, beat whites and salt in large bowl until stiff but not dry. Fold into batter in 2 additions. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until tester inserted near center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool cake in pan 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack and cool completely. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Wrap tightly with plastic.)
Dust cake with powdered sugar. Serve with ice cream, if desired.