can a homemade carrot cake be successfully covered with fondant? i've been asked by a friend to do so...and I'm new to decorating. I've worked with fondant but not sure it would work well with this cake? any advice? it would only be a 8" round x4"high Thanks!

Yup, but the denser the cake the better.

Yes

I've covered carrot cake with fondant w/ no problems.

Yes...I fill it with cream cheese icing but I ice it in regular icing under the fondant.