Carrot cake has been a sweet treat staple for longer than you might think, even if some
people still might not understand how something so full of vegetables could taste so good.
"Carrot cake? Now why is that a thing? You don't make carrots into a cake, I'm sorry."
Carrot cake was first created in a time when ingredients were scarce and bakers had to
tap into their creativity to make something delicious.
It's said that a treat not far from the present-day carrot cake was first introduced by the British
during World War II as a solution to the scarcity caused by national sugar rations, as noted
by the World Carrot Museum.
The original recipe provided by the British Ministry of Food in the early 1940s can be
found on the Carrot Museum's website. It definitely reflects the difficult times and rationing,
such as using a dried reconstituted egg as a part of the recipe.
The dessert was promoted as "Dr. Carrot's Healthy Cake," designed to encourage the public
to include more of the vegetable in their diets to enjoy its wide range of health benefits.
The British Ministry was aware of the antioxidant properties of carrots, and also suggested
that their natural sweetness would be a great way to curb sugar cravings in children.
While the average modern-day child might not enjoy munching on raw carrots instead of more
up-front sugary sweets, carrots still contain a good amount of sugar, if you cook them right
and coax the flavor out. This makes them a great asset when it comes to sweetening baked
goods. Case in point, Costco's seasonal four-pound ten-inch carrot cake, which tends to come
out around Easter time.
"Ooh, I'm gonna have the carrot cake."
While carrot cake may have once been seen as a relatively healthy dessert, Costco's
carrot cake is definitely an example of how the times have changed. Costco has come up
with a few variations over the years, including a slightly more compact two-and-a-half pound
carrot bar cake. There also seem to be some regional variations including a Hawaiian carrot
cake with candied pineapple, according to the Instagram page Costco Finds Canada.
But you can't argue with an old classic, and it seems like Costco's loyal customers are
always eager for the return of the familiar four-pound form of carrot cake. It's a dessert
that's consistently popular and splashed all over social media, with plenty of Instagram
posts and social media hype surrounding its release. One example is the Instagram account
The Costco Connoisseur, which has been known to rave about the pleasure of bringing one
of these cakes home. But what's the cake's secret ingredient that helps to make it so
irresistible? Breaking down the recipe, food website Delish
describes Costco's carrot cake as a "masterpiece" made up of two layers of cake covered in cream
cheese icing and carrot cake crumbs. The inside is a mix of classic toasted walnuts and an
apricot filling that is sure to surprise and impress any carrot cake lover.
While unexpected, a quick recipe search online shows that apricot in carrot cake might not
be so uncommon. While there is surely some extra sugar added to Costco's pre-made carrot
cake, apricots and other dried fruit are also a great way to sweeten a cake without just
resorting to pure sugar when you're making one on your own.
Costco's take on the carrot cake is so popular that foodies have been known to make their
own renditions. Cook Lori Kemph at the food blog Mutt and Chops has written about how
the sweet and sour apricot creates an ideal balance for the cake's flavor profile, cutting
through the indulgent nature of the cream cheese frosting with a satisfying tang. Other
sweet fruits like raisins or pineapple can also go a long way in complementing the flavor
of a carrot cake.
The results speak for themselves. Costco's apricot-infused carrot cake is a well-balanced
twist on an old favorite that's sure to keep you coming back for seconds. Thankfully, there
is more than enough to go around with this four-pound jumbo offering. Costco's carrot
cake has also historically been seen at a reasonable price of around $14 -- a steal
considering the number of portions you can slice from the giant cake.
Of course, there's usually no beating Costco when it comes to getting a great deal. Try
finding a cake of this size elsewhere at this price. Even better, the carrot cake is already
made, so you can enjoy the best part about baking: sitting down to feast. Easter dessert
has never been easier.
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