Carrot cake is a beloved dessert that has been enjoyed by people all around the world for decades. However, not many people know about the intriguing history of this delicious cake. The origin of carrot cake can be traced back to medieval times when sugar was scarce, and people used sweet vegetables to add flavour to their desserts. Fast forward to today, and carrot cake has become a popular treat that can be found in bakeries and cafes all over the world. Continue reading to explore the fascinating history of carrot cake and our tips on where to buy the best. So sit back, grab a slice of your favorite carrot cake, and let’s delve into the delicious world of carrot cakes!
Exploring the Trend of Incorporating Vegetables into Cakes: What’s the Buzz all About?
The most likely reason is to do with the sweetness of carrots. Apart from sugar beet, carrots are one of the sweetest vegetables.
Incorporating shredded carrots into a cake recipe not only keeps the cake moist, but also provides a slight crunch that adds to its unique texture. When combined with warm spices and topped with a luscious cream cheese frosting, carrot cake has undoubtedly become one of the most beloved desserts in the nation. Although the idea of carrots in a cake may seem unusual to some, the delicious flavour and texture it brings to the table prove that it is a winning combination.
Who Invented Carrot Cake?
In medieval times, across northern Europe, carrots were often used to sweeten baking when honey was unavailable or too expensive. Carrot pudding was a favourite sweet dish and it is thought that carrot cake originated by extending the idea to sweetening bread with carrots. Bakers realised the flavour worked rather well and the first recorded carrot cake recipes were published in 19th century cook books.
In the UK, the big revival for carrot cake came as a result of sugar rationing in the Second World War. In the postwar years, although sugar became plentiful again, carrot cake was never forgotten and in the last 20 years the novelty of incorporating a delicious vitamin-rich, healthy vegetable has appealed to a whole new generation of cake lovers.
Where to Buy the Best Carrot Cake
At our bakery, we take pride in using only the freshest and highest quality ingredients in our carrot cake. Unlike some bakeries that may use dried carrots, our cake contains a whopping 26% of wholesome carrots that are sourced directly from local farmers. We take great care in grating the carrots fresh in our bakery, ensuring that every bite of our carrot cake is bursting with natural sweetness and flavour.
Taste the difference for yourself and buy carrot cake from The Gift of Cake today!
How Our Carrot Cake Got it’s Name
One of our younger aficionados (still at primary school) told us that her favourite carrot cake to buy is from The Gift of Cake. She said it’s so good it must be what angels eat. We liked that thought and now we call our creation ‘Angelic Carrot Cake’.
You can read the reviews of some of our happy customers here or if you want to see what all the fuss is about, head over to our shop and buy carrot cake from The Gift of Cake to try yourself.
If you fancy doing some baking with carrots, you can find a delicious recipe for Carrot & Walnut Cupcakes on our blog.
