when you have a request to do carrot cake do you just make it or ask them if they want raisins and or nuts in it too? There are so many variations of carrot cake im not sure which one would be the traditional one, the one with just carrots, or with nuts, pineapple, its boggling. Needless to say i have an order for carrot cake 12x18 size and need a recipe that will bake well in this size pan and preferrable not crumble when cut. got any suggestions??
I would definitely ask what inclusions they want. For me.... I hate nuts in cakes and fudge. If they have some similar dislike and assume you'll not be using it and you do, they will be disappointed. Also, if they love nuts or raisins or pineapple in their carrot cake and assume you'll be using it and don't, they'll be disappointed.
My recipe includes some shredded sweet potato and apple in addition to the carrots. You can't taste either one, but it really adds depth. It's from a Mrs Field's cookbook. Whether I add nuts or don't depends on the person who the cake is for.
This is the recipe that I absolutely love. I make a cream cheese frosting for it though.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/gale-gand/spiced-walnut-carrot-cake-with-pineapple-recipe/index.html
I have 6 or 7 carrot cake recipes so it all depends on which one they ask for but they all contain lots of CARROT 
Pineapple???!!! That must be regional. Carrot cake is my favorite and I've had it from many different bakeries and restaruants. Some have nuts, I have heard of raisins before, but never tasted a carrot cake with them, but I have never even heard of pineapple. That sounds very strange to me. Is that a northern thing? I live in TX.
My second favorite cake is Italian Creme Cake. Am I right to assume that always has nuts. I've never thought to clarify things like nuts or no nuts. Of couse I only make cakes for my kids and family - rarely can I talk them in to something besides white, chocolate, or strawberry.
Thank you, That was all very helpful. I would do just carrots too, but then like some of you said people all have a differant view of what goes in a carrot cake. I think i will keep mine just carrots too, and if they want the other then call it a hummingbird cake, would that be right?
Holly, I'm in Texas and have heard of pineapple in it, so I don't think it is a northern thing, just something different.
Sweetcakes, I think humming bird cakes have the addition of mashed banana too.
does your carrot cake sink a little in the middle after taking it out? today i made it, a 11x15 cake, rose great, almost to the top of the pan, but right when it looked about done and i was to take it out it sunk a little. if it doesn;t sink any more then i think i will be ok, but if it does, i may have to rebake,
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