Carrot Cake

I would like to serve carrot cake for dessert this Easter instead of the old lamb cake. Can you please recommend your favorite bakery for carrot cake. From Edgewater to Schaumburg area. Thank You

Hi--carrot cake from the baker who owns Angel Food was served at a family wedding over 15 years ago (the bride grew up with the owner), and remains a favorite today. I helped serve it at an 80th birthday party recently, and guests were coming back for seconds. Moist & chewy cake, frosting perfectly complementing the interior. Beautifully decorated. I'd recommend it in a heart beat.

Angel Food Bakery
1636 W. Montrose, Chicago
773-728-1512

I second the Angel Food cake (as well as anything else they produce).

One note: if you like your carrot cake with nuts (as I do) you need to look around because Angel Food doesn't use them. I believe Selmarie does the classic version with nuts quite well.

Many people like Maude's Organic cakes. They are served at Lula and Terragusto among other places.

Online I found them here

http://www.tipsycakechicago.com/menu.html

I'd suggest sampling a slice at a local cafe. She's heavy on the spices, which I like, but her cake is almost smooth, not as chunky as I prefer a carrot cake to be. But her cream cheese frosting is to die for.

At my office, for the monthly birthday thing, we often get cakes from Bake For Me. Generally, I find them too sweet, but their carrot cake is quite good, heavy on the nuts and carrots. Their prices are VERY reasonable.
http://bakeforme.com/

I've heard Bleeding Heart makes a Carrot Cake heavy on the pineapple, profiled here http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=5920 I have not been over there to sample yet, but it does sound good. [/url]

There is a wonderful carrot cake (and cream cheese frosting) recipe from the Silver Palate New Basics cookbook. It is very easy to make and is fool proof. We usually make it for parties since it is a good sized dessert and it never fails to draw compliments.

Here is a link to the recipe:

http://dinnercoop.cs.cmu.edu/dinnercoop/Recipes/barry/BertasCarrotCake.html

we had a great carrot cake from three tarts bakery in northfield. we also got an awesome banana cake with chocolate mousse from them for my son's first b-day party.

Three Tarts Bakery and Café
301 South Happ Road
Northfield 60093
847.446.5444 phone

I have to second Al's recommendation of the Silver Palate recipe. That was our go-to cake for many years. Great moisture from the pineapple. Never failed to work.

If you're willing to bake it yourself, I highly recommend this recipe, descended from the original at Philadelphia's Frog Commissary restaurant and catering company. It's a bit more labor intensive than most, but the results are well worth the extra work.

Does anyone know where I can get some of that delicious Maude's carrot cake? I have been searching the net and found some old posts on here as well as articles on the net but nothing current as to where I can get some. Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks!

can't believe i still had the maude's flier from some time ago. used to pick up the cupcake sized carrot cake & chocolate cake at the green city market.

i have no idea if this info is still valid, but it lists "Maude's, Nancy Depondt, 773-680-8397". please let us know if you find success....

those were always a big hit when i picked them up at the holiday market. i don't usually make it to the summertime GCM, but usually try to catch one or two of the winter markets, though i still miss the old location in lincoln park zoo.

miss ellen

Terragusto used to sell her cakes and cupcakes as well, might try there.

Thanks for the responses! Terragusto doesnt sell them anymore, neither does Tipsycake. Bulldog used to but they moved. I will try calling the number, I think that would be the best way to find out, go direct to the source!

Just in case anyone else is looking for the cupcake version of the carrot cake they sell them at the Goddess and the Grocer on Damen Ave. I am going by there tomorrow, I can't wait!

meaning no disrespect to Maude, I just wanted to note that I continue to be knocked out by Taste of Heaven's carrot cake. I took a few slices to dinner with friends on Saturday and it was great: intensely dense, nice sweet (but not too sweet) frosting.

They offered carrot cupcakes as well, but I was afraid they wouldn't have that all-powerful density.

(ToH doesn't seem to get much respect around here; searching, I did find some accounts of shoddy results but I'm surprised there isn't a little more love too; I don't go that frequently, but I've never had less than excellent cake from there, and I don't think I've really had anything really bad... and please, let's not dredge up the "inside voices" thing...)

A Taste of Heaven
5401 N Clark St, Chicago, IL
(773) 989-0151

I've never had Maude's, but last month I used this recipe to make carrot cupcakes and mini cupcakes for a co-worker's birthday. It was very easy, and the maple-cream cheese frosting was so very good.

germuska wrote:(ToH doesn't seem to get much respect around here; searching, I did find some accounts of shoddy results but I'm surprised there isn't a little more love too;)

I don't know about ToH's carrot cake, but the folks who work there are super nice. (I also support their request for patrons' use of "indoor voices" in their establishment.) I'm somewhat wary of the Andersonville brunch scene, but I stopped into ToH for a scone on a very, very cold morning last winter. I had no intention of staying to eat it. The space was crowded, and I didn't see any open spots, but the woman behind the counter insisted I stay and warm up (I probably looked like Rudolph). She made a space for me over by the window. I sat and had my scone and tea--an unexpected respite on my morning of weekend errands. The raisin scone was very pleasant, on the drier, crumbly side with a very subtle sweetness--just the way I like my scones.

Happy_stomach

Was the maple frosting really sweet? I really like the sound of that recipe but I have some reservations about the maple syrup being too sweet for some people. (not me, I've been known to do shots of maple syrup right out of the fridge)

Swanline wrote:Was the maple frosting really sweet? I really like the sound of that recipe but I have some reservations about the maple syrup being too sweet for some people. (not me, I've been known to do shots of maple syrup right out of the fridge)

I was afraid that it would be too sweet too (I typically stay away from all things maple syrup with the exception of maple leaf cream cookies, which I'm programmed to like as a Canadian and which I can eat a box at a time), but I very lightly (thinly?) frosted the cupcakes I made, so that the taste of the carrot cake was still most prominent. I actually think the light frosting made the cupcakes more aesthetically appealing too, i.e. made them look like they had a pearly glaze.

Thanks! I'll have to make them soon.

I will definitely have to go check them out. I love a good carrot cake! Thanks for the post.

Let me know if you still need a carrot cake. I bake a pretty wonderful one that gets rave reviews, message me and I will give you the address of where I make them.

Any recommendations as to where I can eat/buy really good carrot cake (no nuts please!) with cream cheese frosting? I've already had carrot cake from the following: Bennison's Bakery in Evanston (SO DELICIOUS!), Hub 51 (good), and Rock Bottom (the nuts were an interruption lol). I've already tried the carrot cake cupcakes from Swirlz, Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique, and Bleeding Heart Bakery, but I'm done with my cupcake kick so I'm going to tackle cake pieces now haha Has anyone tried the carrot cake from The Cheesecake Factory? Thanks!

This is easy. Ivy Uppercrust Pastry has the best carrot cake.

Hi,

Recently had a better than expected Costco Carrot sheet cake with apricot mousse filling and cream cheese filling. Easily could be baked without nuts. Since it feeds 48 people, you probably won't try it anytime soon.

Regards,

I've gotten really great Carrot Cake from the Alliance Bakery.

1736 W. Division
Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 278-0366


They also deliver, which was key when I ordered them. I've always been pleased with their cakes.

I've never tried Carrot cake at Dinkels but, again, they make a pretty tasty cake.

3329 N. Lincoln Ave
Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 281-7300

We've had carrot cake from Dinkel's for our office birthday celebrations and it has always been a big hit. I can't remember if there are nuts in the batter or not.

Jill and I have been enamored with slices of Labriola's carrot cake that we get at The Grind in Lincoln Square.

It's really terrific in every way a carrot cake should be.

Best,
Michael

The Grind Coffee Shop
4613 N Lincoln Avenue
Chicago
(773) 271-4482

Labriola Baking
http://www.labriolabaking.com/

I'm no expert, but I had a hankering for carrot cake today and tried the one at Fresh Farms. Pretty good! The frosting is nice and thick but they didn't slather it on; it's a nice balance. Altogether it's pretty rich but I'd eat this again.