National Carrot Cake Day in the U.S. and Sweden Date in the current year: February 3, 2025

Carrots are believed to be native to Afghanistan and Iran. Carrot varieties have been selectively bred over centuries to reduce bitterness, increase sweetness, and minimize the woody core. The first carrots were cultivated for their aromatic leaves rather than their roots. By the way, “ancient” carrots were purple and gray, and orange carrots did not appear until the 17th century. They were first grown in the Netherlands.

Carrot cake has been known since the Middle Ages. Sugar was very expensive at the time, so people looked for cheaper substitutes to flavor their cakes. They came up with the idea of using sweet vegetables like carrots.

When sugar became more widely available, carrot cakes became obsolete. They became popular again during World War II and immediately after, when the British government rationed many foods, including sugar. It's hard to say no to sweet cakes, so the Ministry of Food promoted recipes for carrot puddings, carrot cakes, and carrot-filled pies that were sweet enough and didn't require luxury ingredients.

Today, carrot cake is a traditional Christmas dessert in many families in the UK. However, you don't have to wait for for Christmas to enjoy it. Treat yourself to a slice of carrot cake on February 3, as it is National Carrot Cake Day in the United States and Sweden.