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Whoever decided to put carrots in cake deserves a stern talking to from my childhood self. Growing up, I just couldn’t fathom the idea of vegetables inside of cake and would regularly cast a disgusted scowl towards anyone offering such a thing. Thankfully my tastes have evolved, along with my understanding of how carrots affect the overall sweetness and texture of cake.
Known for its wide range of sweet tooth-enticing treats, Trader Joe’s is usually my first stop when on the prowl for a tasty seasonal snack. While carrots are readily available all year round, my beloved TJ’s only releases its Carrot Mini Sheet Cake for a limited time, and I finally had a chance to get my hands on one.
If Trader Joe’s collection of seasonal mini sheet cakes are what dreams are made of, then this carrot cake variety is an actual dream come true.
Simply Recipes / Photo Illustration by Wanda Abraham / Trader Joe’s
Why I Love Trader Joe’s Mini Carrot Sheet Cake
The highly sought-after cake weighs 18 ounces and measures seven inches long, five inches wide, and one-and-a-half inches tall (frosting included). It’s simple by design: the cake is made with shredded carrots, warm spices, and walnut meal and is topped with a delicious cream cheese frosting.
A slice is the perfect way to wind down after a long day or jump-start a warm summer morning. The best part? It retails for just $4.99, and it’s nearly impossible to eat in small increments.
How I Enjoy Trader Joe’s Mini Carrot Sheet Cake
While the flavor of the cake is excellent, its sweetness level hits the bullseye for me. Compared to the popular Chantilly Cream Vanilla Bean sheet cake TJ’s was selling a couple of months ago, this one is not nearly as sweet but is equally moist and flavorful. A slice goes amazingly well with a cup of cold brew or tea in the morning, and the cream cheese frosting is dangerously easy to scrape off and eat on its own.
Speaking of eating on its own, this cake needs no add-ons to be enjoyed, though gilding the lily doesn’t hurt. I added a dollop of Greek yogurt mixed with a little honey and dusted everything with powdered sugar to make the already delicious treat even better.
I can see myself pairing my next slice of this moist, rich cake with a scoop of vanilla or pistachio ice cream and topping it off with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle. After that little treat, it’ll be time to tuck me in and say goodnight.
