It's Carrot Cake Day !

I had a lovely day yesterday, a family gathering celebrating a birthday (not mine), and it was wonderful to spend time together. We were all in good voice singing 'Happy Birthday' to the happy recipient and the birthday cake treats were enjoyed by all 😋  We even pulled a few Christmas Crackers that had been left over and enjoyed their jokes, rhymes and riddles ... and yes, the Christmas Party Hats, enclosed in the crackers were worn! It was a fun afternoon.

Whilst talking, exchanging news etc. I found out that today, the 3rd of February, is National Carrot Cake Day ... "Now who doesn’t love a nice warm and spicy slice of carrot cake with creamy frosting that’s just starting to melt? Oh yes, this is definitely a certain kind of sweet heaven! When most people find out that National Carrot Cake Day is an actual thing, they are highly likely to perform a little happy dance out of sheer delight. 24 hours–one whole entire day–to do nothing but give this often-overshadowed dessert its due. What a delightful opportunity!

So, now it’s time to join in! Some people might even be dancing in their seats just waiting to learn more about this culinary celebration. Not to worry because the following offers everything anyone might need to know about the history and celebration of Carrot Cake Day.

Get ready to enjoy National Carrot Cake Day!

History of National Carrot Cake Day

Carrot cake is a lovely and unique creation that seems to have evolved out of a favourite from the Medieval times that was called carrot pudding. At the time it seems that carrot pudding was made from a hollowed out carrot, similar to the way that stuffed peppers might be made today, then filled with breadcrumbs, cream and other ingredients.

Through times in history when access to sugar was non-existent, expensive, or very hard to come by, people have used sweet vegetables to make their desserts sweet. In fact, this practice has been as recent in history as during World War II.

During this difficult time around the globe, and especially in Europe, the government of Britain needed to ration food and luxury items to their population. That provided the perfect opportunity for this delicious cake made from grated carrots to experience a surge in popularity. During the war, the Ministry of Food in Britain encouraged people to try many different recipes that used carrots as a sweetener. They suggested carrot cakes, carrot puddings, and even carrot filled pies!

It is also something to note that some people believe carrot sweetened confections may be healthier for people, since they may contain some extra vitamins. However, some recipes you see contain enough sugar that it probably still should not be considered a daily serving of vegetables! (there are however lower carb recipe versions of course 😊 )

Going beyond Europe, the United States of America has some history with carrot cakes as well. There are documents that record President George Washington would enjoy this tasty treat in Lower Manhattan in New York City when he would go to a tavern called Fraunces Tavern. This probably happened even before he became the president.

In fact, there was a cookbook that was put together to record and honour early American recipes, lending credence to this myth. The Thirteen Colonies Cookbook was created by Mary Donovan, Amy Hatrack, and Frances Schull. In this book, they even offer the exact recipe for President Washington’s favourite!"

Words above and more to read here

Well as it is Carrot Cake Day, you may wish to make this lower carb version

at just 1.7g carbs per serving most diabetics find it does not raise blood sugar readings to a high level 

you can see the recipe details/instructions here

~ have a lovely day ~

Dear reader, this blog is presented in a magazine style, and you will find a variety of articles, studies, thoughts, photographs, music and recipes! However, not all the recipe ideas featured in this blog may be suitable for you. If you may have any food allergies, or underlying health issues these must always be taken into account. If you are a diabetic and not sure how certain foods may affect your blood sugars, test is best, i.e. use your meter. If you have any concerns about your health, it is always advisable to consult your doctor or health care team.

All the best Jan