What properly belongs in carrot cake?
Simple answer is whatever the baker darn well wants to put in it. Complainers will be given instructions on how to find the kitchen.
Carrot cake is one of those things that every grandmother makes a little bit different and all of them make it correctly. Just ask them.
Well definitely not walnuts for those allergic to same. If I got one with either pineapple or raisins, my wife would complain. I could take raisins, but I certainly don’t need them and the best carrot cakes do not have them.
Who in their right mind would put pineapple in carrot cake?? I’m just…I’m insulted!!!
The only thing that even MAYBE belongs in carrot cake besides carrots is walnuts. I prefer none but it’s not the end of the world if they’re there.
But PINEAPPLE??? UGH.
I’m not entirely sure I’ve had raisins in my carrot cake. It’s possible. Certainly seems like a reasonable ingredient. Pineapple, I’m completely unaware of. It seems to cease to be carrot cake at that point, but what do I know? I’m not a big sweets guy.
Walnuts, though, yes. Doesn’t have to, but I like it. So I voted, no, no, yes.
Don’t care what’s in it.
Must have .5" rich butter cream icing.
I’ll take a corner piece, thanks.
Wait wait wait… carrot cake has cream cheese icing/frosting. I prefer it to be a German buttercream sweetened with maple, but you do you.
Carrot cake shots
Equal parts:
Goldschlager
Baily’s Irish Cream
Butterscotch schnapps
Shaken and poured into a rocks glass. Drank as a shot. Delicious. But super sweet hangover fuel, so dont di more than 1 or 2 in a night.
I’ve worked in liquor stores; why have I never heard of Butterscotch schnapps?
I never seen it either, Burpo. But I do live at the ass-end of the world.
No on the first two. Couldn’t vote on walnuts because they’re fine either way. But raisins and pineapple don’t fit. Raisins bread is great, but it gets in the way of the cake flavor. And I’ve never even heard of using pineapple: adding that makes is a pineapple cake.
Walnuts can work since they don’t override the taste the carrots provide. But sweet fruit does.
Probably because it is disgusting crap. On it’s own, anyway. Carrot cakes are the only use for it.
A shot of it is kind of nice in a latte.*
- Og I feel dirty for saying that. Doesn’t mean it’s not true though.
All three choices are optional.
My best recipe lists walnuts as optional, and the basic cake is so damn good, the walnuts would not be missed.
oooo, will you share or direct me to this recipe?? 
Or carrots, for those allergic to them.
I’ve had carrot cake with and without raisins. My husband hates them, though, so when I make it I leave them out.
Have never heard of putting pineapple in carrot cake, ever. I wouldn’t do it either, because I hate pineapple.
I prefer pecans to walnuts in pretty much anything, so if there’s going to be nuts, it’ll be pecans. Some walnuts are bitter and I just don’t much care for them.
I also like coconut in my carrot cake since it adds moisture, but that’s definitely a custom addition - haven’t had coconut in carrot cake anywhere but my own house.
I’m good with the traditional cream cheese frosting, too, but the husband prefers a lemon glaze since it’s lighter and less sweet, and it is pretty good.
My recipe uses a small can of crushed pineapple. No raisins. And I substitute pecans for walnuts.
Covered with 1/2" of cream cheese butter icing.
I get lots of compliments.
I add pineapple to mine. It’s so good and I always get compliments and requests for the recipe.
I’m good with raisins and walnuts too.
I’m a little surprised by the folks who’ve never noticed pineapple in carrot cake. I’d say it’s a fairly common addition. As Aspenglow says, it’s usually in crushed form, not chunks… maybe you’re just not noticing it? It adds moisture, acid and fruitiness, but not necessarily a distinct pineappley flavour. It’s not present in my favourite recipe, but I wouldn’t turn down a slice.