# Why is Carrot Cake considered a cake and Bananna Bread considered a bread? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [March 16, 2022, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149 "2022-03-16T02:22:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/1 "2022-03-16T02:22:33Z")
They both contain essentially the same ingredients (eggs, sugar, baking soda, etc.). And “because it’s tradition” is not an acceptable answer. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/2 "2022-03-16T02:24:40Z")
Carrot cake is usually baked in a cake pan, whether sheet-cake or a round layer pan, and frosted. Banana bread usually isn’t. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/3 "2022-03-16T02:26:51Z")
So if I bake my banana bread in a cake pan I should call it banana cake? ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/4 "2022-03-16T02:30:43Z")
You can call it whatever you want. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/5 "2022-03-16T02:32:06Z")
IANA chef but I always assumed bananna bread was made with bread flour- that is flour containing gluten ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/6 "2022-03-16T02:34:03Z")
Bread is usually dense, cake is usually light. Technically, zucchini bread is cake. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/7 "2022-03-16T02:34:24Z")
The recipes I’ve seen say to use AP flour. Except for the fact that banana bread is usually baked in a loaf pan, it doesn’t have the consistency of bread. It’s really a cake that’s typically made in a bread pan. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/8 "2022-03-16T02:35:04Z")
It alliterates better that way. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/9 "2022-03-16T02:35:24Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > So if I bake my banana bread in a cake pan I should call it banana cake? If [monkey bread](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey_bread) were named monkey cake would it be any less delicious? IMO bread is denser than cake. But I doubt that’s a hard and fast rule. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/10 "2022-03-16T02:36:34Z")
Mostly the frosting, I think. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/11 "2022-03-16T02:36:55Z")
Huh. I’m confused then. ETA And what is the difference exactly between cupcakes and muffins then??? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/12 "2022-03-16T02:39:43Z")
Frosting and eating after noon. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/13 "2022-03-16T02:39:52Z")
I frost my banana bread. It’s the only bread I frost for what it’s worth. What if I make my banana bread into rolls? Are they banana rolls, like cinnamon rolls, banana cake rolls, or banana bread rolls? Since I’m using a square cake pan they must be banana cake rolls. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/14 "2022-03-16T02:42:18Z")
Cupcakes and muffins have different textures. Cupcakes are lighter and fluffier than muffins. Carrot Cake and Banana Bread have the same texture. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/15 "2022-03-16T02:45:31Z")
I’m going to start calling my Banana Bread Banana Cake and see if it catches on. Who cares what pan you used to bake it? That’s arbitrary and nonsensical. If it looks like a cake and tastes like a cake… ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/16 "2022-03-16T02:49:38Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I frost my banana bread. It’s the only bread I frost for what it’s worth. A lot of people have frosted raisin bread, verdad? > **[Iced Raisin Bread - Woody's Smokehouse](https://www.woodys-smokehouse.com/product/iced-cinnamon-raisin-bread/)** > > Loaf of Iced Raisin Bread So go, dolphinboy, go! ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/17 "2022-03-16T02:51:10Z")
I suppose you can frost any bread, but it doesn’t make it right. ---
**Author:** ![lobotomyboy63](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobotomyboy63/32/2900_2.png) [@lobotomyboy63](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobotomyboy63)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/18 "2022-03-16T02:56:17Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > I suppose you can frost any bread, but it doesn’t make it right For some breads, maybe not. Still, something about that savory bread juxtaposed with sweetness can be such a home run. Remember these? > **[Pillsbury™ Orange Rolls with Orange Icing](https://www.pillsbury.com/products/cinnamon-rolls/orange-sweet-rolls-with-icing)** > > Slow down and savor the morning together with warm, freshly-baked Pillsbury Orange Rolls. It’s easy to make any day citrusy sweet with Pillsbury’s ready-to-bake dough made with Cinnabon cinnamon and orange icing. These refrigerated orange cinnamon... ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/19 "2022-03-16T03:03:08Z")
This is the only correct answer. ---
**Author:** ![dolphinboy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dolphinboy/32/330_2.png) [@dolphinboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dolphinboy)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2022, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149/20 "2022-03-16T03:08:17Z")
Well here’s a [recipe](https://brooklynfarmgirl.com/sugar-glazed-cucumber-bread/) for Cucumber Bread, or as you would rather call it, Cucumber Cake. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-carrot-cake-considered-a-cake-and-bananna-bread-considered-a-bread/961149.md?page=2)