Ahead of International Carrot Day (yes, even carrots get their own day!), we embarked on a mission of utmost importance: a carrot cake taste test! Because, let’s be real, who doesn’t love a good slice of carrot cake?
To celebrate, we compared a selection of shop-bought carrot cakes. And, of course, we couldn’t forget to include a homemade version!
RECIPE: Gluten-free carrot cake
To keep things fair, all cakes were tasted blind – no peeking at the packaging was allowed and our panel of tasters bravely sampled each cake to deliver the verdict.
The results
While some shop-bought contenders impressed with their flavours, it was the icing that set our homemade delight apart, delivering on the promise of a decadent cream cheese icing!
1. SPAR Carrot Cake
Despite its petite size, this cake packed a flavour punch! Moist, bursting with carroty goodness, and studded with pecans and pineapple, it won the hearts of our tasting team.
Tasters noted the icing, while ample, sadly leaned more towards buttercream than cream cheese. Here’s what they had to say: “This sample was lovely, the density and the taste was good, however I do think it lacked spice and I wish that the carrots were not ‘whole’ in the cake if that makes sense,” and “It has a wow factor from the first bite. Fluffy and rich in flavour, perfect balance, buttery and moist,” and lastly, “This sample was delicious, good texture and moist. The only reason I marked it down was because of the icing. It was too sweet and tasted more of a buttercream icing than cream cheese icing and the icing (for me at least) is the best part of any cake!”
While delightful, this carrot cake leaned on the pricier side at R22.50 for a tiny loaf.
The carrot cake was made at an in-house bakery at Vredehoek SPAR in Cape Town and some SPAR bakeries’ recipes may differ slightly.
2. Homemade carrot cake and Woolworths Carrot Tea Cake
Tying for second place, we have Woolworths and the homemade version!
Our homemade creation seemingly divided opinions, with some praising its carroty punch, while others found it a tad too earthy. But the cream cheese icing was undeniably authentic and delicious!
Here is what tasters had to say about the homemade carrot cake: “The sample is moist, has a different earthy taste. I give it an A for presentation,” and “This was my favourite sample. I’m also going to say this is the homemade one because this was the only sample that actually delivered on that signature cream cheese icing. It was delicious. The cake itself packed a carroty punch, maybe too earthy for some tastes but I thought it paired wonderfully with the icing,” and lastly, “I really did not like this sample as it tasted way too earthy, they over did it with the carrots and there is actually not a hint of spice. It is very bland.”
As for Woolworths, tasters found the icing too sweet and more of a lemon glaze, but appreciated the addition of nuts in the sample. Here’s the scoop: “The icing was way too sweet, although I really liked the addition of walnuts on top and within. Although it was a mix between tender and crumbly I do think more carrots must be added,” and “The sample is too sweet. There is a lack of carrot and spice. I give it an average rating,” and lastly, “The icing was like a sweet lemony glaze?!? It did not taste like a cream cheese icing. The cake itself was more subtle on the carrot and spiced front but I did quite like the cake itself.”
At R79.99, Woolworths’ carrot cake is a premium treat indeed.
3. Pick n Pay Carrot Cake Tea Loaf
Tasters were surprised to find this cake tasting more like ginger and cinnamon than carrot, and where’s the icing? It was sorely missed!
Here’s what some tasters had to say: “There are no carrots in this sample, it tastes like ginger and cinnamon. In addition, the icing lacked flavour overall,” and “There is a lack of flavour and it lacked in presentation. There could be more icing,” and lastly, “This sample was sadly dry. It did not have enough icing to start with and the icing was just sugar, no real flavour and certainly not a cream cheese icing. It didn’t scream carrot cake either, tasted more of ginger and cinnamon.”
At R65.99, this cake’s price sadly doesn’t match its flavour profile.
4. Checkers Carrot Tea Cake
Dry and lacking in flavour, tasters found that this cake left much to be desired!
Here’s what some tasters had to say: “The actual cake doesn’t have much of a taste either way. The sponge is tough and dry as well. The icing is very lemony, does not scream cream cheese,” and “The sample is not well balanced, dry and lacking flavour. Interesting use of oat flour,” and “The sample lacked flavour completely and overall it was dry and lacked walnuts inside. Although the icing was incredible it doesn’t complement the cake. It also had no spice included in it.”
Priced at R44.99, this cake offers affordability but falls short in some of the important carrot cake areas.
The carrot cake was made at an in-house bakery at Kloof Street Checkers in Cape Town and some Checkers bakeries’ recipes may differ slightly.
Prices correct at time of publishing. Food24 is not affiliated with any retailer or specific branch, and products may differ from store to store.
RECIPE: Egg-free carrot cake
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The rules of Food24 Taste Tests:
– All tasters tasted and scored all samples. Each individual taster’s preference impacts the score they give.
– The samples were tested without packaging and were not easily identifiable.
– The samples were not labelled and were tasted in random order.
– This article is not sponsored in any way, and Food24 was not paid to come to any particular result.
– Our taste tests are always unbiased and intended for your information. You may, however, have come to this article through various paid-for advertising.
– Food24 is not affiliated with any retailer or specific branch, and products may differ from store to store.