Skip to main content

All about Carrot Cake

Published: Feb 10, 2023

It’s not often that you can have your cake and eat your carrots, too! Carrot cake has been around for ages and has its roots all over the world in places like England, France, Switzerland and the United States. It’s a deliciously different recipe that’s perfect for a springtime celebration or a crowd-pleasing treat any time of year!

What is Carrot Cake?

You’re probably wondering why anyone would think to put a vegetable in a cake, right? Those are basically opposites! Well, there’s a pretty interesting (and tasty) explanation as to how this recipe came to be.

History of Carrot Cake

Believe it or not, carrots have been used in place of sugar for centuries! Sweeteners were often scarce or expensive, so people had to get creative with what they had at home. Since carrots are one of the sweetest and most accessible veggies out there, the use of carrots as natural sweeteners only made sense.

The practice of using carrots in desserts started in medieval times. Cooks would make a type of “pudding” with boiled carrots, spices, flour and eggs. Once ovens were more readily available, it became much more popular to bake desserts instead of boiling or steaming them. Adding more flour and fat to the mix is what eventually gave carrot cake that lighter, fluffier texture we all know and love today.

Carrot Cake on an orange plate

What's in Carrot Cake?

The rumors are true — there are actual carrots in carrot cake. But don’t let that scare you away; it’s actually quite delicious! Carrot cake is typically made with the same ingredients you’d find in a lot of other cakes, like flour, oil, baking soda and vanilla extract. However, most carrot cake recipes will add spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, chopped walnuts, brown sugar and a cream cheese frosting on top.

Homemade Carrot Cake Recipes

The combination of carrots and spices in desserts has been around for a long time. That means there are many different recipes, and everyone’s got their favorite! Take a look at some of these recipes and see if one or more of them can sweeten up your life.

Carrot Cake with REESE’S Peanut Butter Chips

Enhance the recipe you know and love with some REESE’S Peanut Butter Chips! This carrot cake will be a new favorite with the peanut butter lovers in your life. It’s also one of our most popular Easter recipes, so hop to it!

Carrot cake with Reese's peanut butter chips

HERSHEY’S KISSES with Almonds Topped Mini Carrot Cupcakes

These portable little carrot cakes are the perfect bite of moist cake, rich cream cheese frosting and sweet milk chocolate. A yummy treat for bake sales or any kind of group celebration.

HESHEYs KISSES with Almonds Topped Mini Carrot Cupcakes

FAQs about Carrot Cake

Hopefully you agree that the idea of veggies in your dessert is tastier than it sounds! Warm spices, naturally sweet carrot and cream cheese frosting make this recipe so delicious, it’s no wonder carrot cake is so popular around the world. One bite of this cake will have you including these recipes in your celebrations all year round!