Tips and Advice

5 tips for making your homemade carrot cake perfect

By Eloísa Carmona - 2022-02-02T13:08:07Z
Read in EnglishMaking carrot cake is perhaps one of the most accessible ways to start baking. The ingredients are simple: carrots, vanilla, eggs, oil, cinnamon, sugar, baking powder, salt, and flour are all you need to prepare this dessert that is already a classic.The origins of carrot cake are not entirely clear, as there is an English recipe for making “pudding in a Carret root (sic)” dating back to 1951, but this is essentially a stuffed carrot that includes many common elements of the modern dessert.Since then, it has evolved significantly and has become very popular in its homemade versions, as it is a way to enjoy sweet bread while controlling the sugar content, for example.But even though it is a simple recipe, if you are a beginner, you are likely to have gaps in the process that can be perfectly filled by these tips, resulting in the perfect carrot cake.1. Don't be afraid of the ovenEvery oven is different. If your recipe, for example, says to bake your cake for 30 minutes but it smells like something is burning at 20 minutes, don't be afraid to open the oven, insert a toothpick, and check that everything is going well with your cake. Trust your nose and intuition, the chances of your oven exploding if you open it are minimal.2. Grease the pan wellThe fear here is using too much butter because it is a fat, but remember that greasing creates a barrier between the pan and the batter; don't worry, your cake won't absorb it completely. For this barrier to work, the best technique is to coat the pan with enough butter (don't be afraid to leave a good layer) and then flour it. 3. Choose quality ingredientsThere is a significant difference in flavor when using vanilla extract versus vanilla flavoring, so don't hold back when it comes to choosing quality ingredients. Think of it as an investment that may be costly, but it will serve you for other dishes or many carrot cakes. Additionally, extract usually has much less sugar content than flavorings.4. Measurements matterBaking is finicky, and adding more or less of an ingredient will always yield a very different result, so if you are just starting out, try to be very strict with the measurements to ensure the batter turns out as it ideally should.5. Invest in toolsA mixer, measuring cups, and even a silicone mold could be the key to making your cake truly perfect. If you invest in a silicone mold, this will save you the step of greasing your pan. So if you have enjoyed baking pound cakes or cupcakes or any other sponge cake, these purchases will be well worth it.It is likely that once you make your first carrot cake, it won't turn out perfect, but don't stop trying and searching for your own tricks and adapting them to your recipe. Practice makes perfect, and the results will become delicious. We assure you.Remember that besides cake or bread, there are many variations of carrot cakes that you can make, such as hot cakes, for example, the mixture of carrot with flour can be very versatile.