10 Store-Bought Carrot Cakes, Ranked Worst To Best

10. Walmart Freshness Guaranteed Carrot Cake

Our taste test, as is often the case, included one husband, one mother, one small boy, and one small girl, along with yours truly. You can find the complete methodology on the last slide, but generally, our aim was to sample the cakes and provide feedback on various aspects, along with an overall score out of 5 points. In this final category, Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed brand carrot cake received a disappointing score of 2.4 points. A quick glance at the other categories reveals it didn't perform any better.

The overwhelming cuteness of Walmart's Freshness Guaranteed carrot cake is really its only redeeming quality. Okay, that might be a bit harsh. The decorations are indeed charming, and the cake is small in an endearing way, while still being ample enough to serve eight people. However, that's where the positives end. This cake simply did not impress.

Where to start? For one, the cake was dry and tasted more like pumpkin spice mix than actual carrots. There were hardly any visible pieces of carrot, nuts, pineapple, or raisins. The frosting bore no resemblance to traditional cream cheese frosting; instead, it was clearly a whipped concoction of low-quality butter and sugar with a hint of vanilla. It had a texture that one wouldn't expect from even the most mediocre cream cheese frosting, and we were not impressed.

9. Private Selection Carrot Cake

My grandmother spent decades working at Fred Meyer, so I have fond memories of the store. Unfortunately, their Private Selection brand didn't quite meet my expectations. This carrot cake was certainly better than Walmart's version, earning a score of 3.6 compared to their dismal 2.4, but it still fell short of being good.

A significant issue was the frosting, which was quite sparse. Given how unappetizing it was, this might have actually worked in the cake's favor. My mother simply remarked, "What frosting?" while the little boy rated it an abysmal 1 out of 5. Ouch. The rest of us were a bit more lenient, but overall, the frosting received a lower score than the cake itself, which is unusual compared to our other options.

The cake's appearance was another drawback. Even though we had the budget for a whole cake, we chose just a slice because it didn't look enticing in the bakery display. The full cake appeared rather plain, and the slice was clearly lacking in frosting from the start. I would recommend skipping this one.

8. Bakery Fresh Carrot Cake

Bakery Fresh is a brand under Kroger, which also owns Fred Meyer, so we weren't surprised to find it at that store. However, we were taken aback by how unappetizing it was. It seems to be a trend that if you're going to create a subpar cake, at least make it visually appealing. This cake tied with Walmart for the cutest appearance, which is rather disappointing. The world is already challenging enough; can't we have a cake that's both charming and delicious? Is that too much to ask?

Unfortunately, yes, it is. My husband, our little girl, and I rated it quite low, with scores ranging from 2 to 4. Our son and mother were slightly more impressed, but their ratings didn't significantly boost the overall score. The flavor of the cake and frosting was quite bland, and the texture was dry and odd.

While Bakery Fresh received the same overall score as Private Selection at 3.6, we rated it slightly higher due to its increased cuteness factor. If you compare the two images, one shows a plain slice while the other looks fit for a royal dessert banquet. Does a king have multiple residences? If so, this cake would certainly look the part, but we hope he has better taste than to choose it.

7. Albertson's Carrot Cake

If you're acquainted with Albertson's, you might not expect them to offer anything that could rival other cake shops. Their stores often have a worn-out appearance, the bakery section doesn't do much to attract customers, and the cakes are packaged in a generic plastic container with a clear lid and an unattractive sticker. So, I was surprised to find that they ranked in the middle rather than at the bottom.

Overall, it’s a fairly decent cake, earning a score of 3.8 out of 5. The frosting received positive feedback, with everyone rating it between 4 and 5. However, the cake itself brought the score down a bit, generally receiving lower ratings, except for the young boy who is always enthusiastic about anything crumbly. Keep in mind, though, that he prefers cake over frosting. (Seriously, where did he come from?) All in all, it wasn’t a bad cake, which is fortunate since we accidentally ended up eating two of them. Read on for more.

6. Safeway Carrot Cake

Take a closer look at the cake in this image compared to the one above. Now, take another glance. Do you see the identical packaging and sticker colors, the interchangeable font, and the exact same cake color? The reason for this is that these cakes are actually the same. Interestingly, we discovered through some taste tests that Albertson's acquired Safeway back in 2015. So, some questions do have straightforward answers, it seems.

That said, it's somewhat surprising that one cake could be rated significantly higher than the other, with a score of 4.2 compared to Albertson's 3.8. This difference could be attributed to freshness. It's possible that one cake was made more recently than the other, which could mean a) it tasted better because it was fresher, or b) it tasted better because it was older, allowing the flavors to develop more fully. The packaging won't provide any hints, as both cakes share the same packaged-on and sell-by dates.

In conclusion, there's likely no way to predict whether Safeway or Albertson's will have a superior carrot cake on any given day. You might as well go to the nearest store and choose your option, which, in either case, wasn't too bad. Keep in mind that I didn't see a whole carrot cake at either location, but that doesn't mean they never have them; it just means you shouldn't rely on finding one.

5. Schwartz Brothers Carrot Cupcakes

The carrot cupcakes from Schwartz Brothers received mostly favorable reviews from everyone except for me. I rated them 3 out of 5 across the board, while others fluctuated between 4s and 5s, with the occasional 3 from a small boy. His overall impression of every cake we sampled was, "Five stars! I want more!" For me, however, the cupcakes fell short in flavor, and the frosting tasted a bit strange.

Interestingly, the frosting received higher scores than the cake itself in almost everyone's evaluations. Once again, I found myself in the minority. Everyone but me rated it a perfect 5 out of 5, and despite being warned to adhere to the rules, the mother even gave it a score above 5. (What can I say? She's the matriarch.) This score was ultimately disregarded, and she was humorously labeled a Cheating Cheaterson.

In the end, the cake averaged a score of 4.4, primarily dragged down by my lower rating. It ended up tying with Trader Joe's carrot cupcakes, which I felt deserved to take the lead over Schwartz Brothers since we all preferred the TJ's version, myself included. However, if you're looking for a charming gift or a potluck item, you might choose Schwartz Brothers. They were presented in a lovely brown bakery box with a clear window, while the TJ's cupcakes came in plastic packaging. Additionally, the frosting from TJ's lacked the adorable swirl seen in the photo above.

4. Trader Joe's Carrot Cupcakes

Trader Joe's is known for its delightful baked goods, and you can usually count on them for a variety of breads, pies, and cakes, whether from their fresh bakery or frozen section. In fact, many of their frozen cakes have become family favorites, including the Chocolate Ganache Torte. (I realize this is a piece about carrot cake, but you should definitely give it a try—just remember to let it thaw completely in the fridge without warming it up.) Anyway, we were thrilled to sample their carrot cupcakes—so much so that we forgot to snap a photo beforehand, which is why you see the empty wrappers beneath the one cupcake we managed to save at the last moment.

Our enthusiasm was well-founded. The carrot cake was delightful, scoring a solid 4.4 overall. It had a lovely, light texture while still being incredibly moist. There were some differing opinions on the overall experience. My mother noted a slightly odd aftertaste, while my husband and the kids were disappointed by the meager amount of frosting. However, the cream cheese frosting was quite good, avoiding that overly hard, buttery texture, and the cake's sweetness compensated for the skimpy icing.

Unfortunately, the Trader Joe's I visited was out of their mini sheet carrot cake, which was disappointing since their mini sheet cakes are generally quite tasty. While I can't personally attest to the carrot cake version, I've tried the chocolate one, and it's fantastic. (Yes, chocolate is my favorite!)

3. Rubicon Carrot Cake

Alright, now we’re diving into the truly exciting part. We had high expectations for Rubicon's carrot cake, and it certainly lived up to them. Just looking at it is a treat; it’s a charming round cake topped with beautifully swirled frosting and adorned with a generous layer of nuts and crumbs around the edges. They say you eat with your eyes first, and this cake provided a delightful visual experience even before we took our first bite.

Our initial impressions were confirmed by the impressive score of 4.5 that it received from everyone. The frosting was rated even higher, achieving a perfect 5 out of 5. It was that exceptional. The cake itself garnered scores of 4s and 5s, with both the flavor and overall rating reflecting the same positivity. You could confidently serve this to guests or bring it to a gathering, and everyone would be thrilled.

On a related note, we also had the chance to try Rubicon's lemon cake at a party later that day. While we didn’t pull out our scorecards at our cousins' house, we did sample it with an eye on the brand's overall potential, and we were quite pleased with both the flavor and frosting. The cake had a delightful lemony taste, complete with the same charming finishing touches as its carrot counterpart. Overall, I’d say this brand is one you can trust. And that’s before we even get to the Rubicon cupcakes, which are coming up next!

2. Whole Foods Carrot Cake

Despite being the most modest of the carrot cakes sampled, the Whole Foods slice emerged as one of the tastiest, earning an impressive score of 4.6. Honestly, I would have been quite upset if it hadn’t lived up to expectations, especially considering that the small slice (as shown in the photo above) was priced at $4.99. That’s an exorbitant price for a piece of cake that’s barely larger than the fork you’ll use to eat it. The portion size seems to cater to dieters, or perhaps Whole Foods is simply eager to lighten your wallet. We suspect it’s the latter, as the chain, which has strayed from healthy offerings, boasts a pizza bar that rivals those in Manhattan, indicating they’re not particularly concerned about anyone’s waistline.

Putting shrinkflation aside, this cake was genuinely delightful. It was moist, crumbly, and packed with enjoyable bits like raisins and nuts. As my mother noted, it wasn’t overly spiced—a common issue with some of the less expensive cakes we tried—nor was it excessively sweet. Instead, it struck a perfect balance between carrot and sweetness, complemented by a delicious frosting that was generously applied. We’d recommend this cake to anyone looking for a personal treat on a hectic day, but don’t expect to share it. If you’re craving more, it’s best to buy the whole cake.

1. Rubicon Carrot Cupcakes

And now, it's time to announce our winner! If you’re going to sample just one type of store-bought carrot cake, make it the Rubicon cupcakes. While the ingredients were quite similar to those in the Rubicon cake, the flavor profile was notably different due to several variations. These distinctions earned the cupcakes an impressive score of 4.75 out of 5, with a perfect 5 for the frosting (just like the cake version).

For starters, the cake and cupcakes had different moisture levels. Personally, I found the cupcakes to be slightly less dense and moist compared to the cake. While some people enjoy a very moist carrot cake, akin to fruitcake, that’s not my preference. I appreciated the less caramelized texture of the cupcake crumb. Additionally, the finish on the cake and the top of the cupcakes differed. Although the crumble ingredients were identical, it served more as a garnish on the cupcakes, which I found appealing since I prefer less of it. Most people seemed to agree on this aspect.

Ultimately, the most significant difference between the cake and the cupcakes was likely the icing-to-cake ratio. The cupcakes featured cream cheese frosting on top, as expected, but they also had a gooey center filled with extra frosting. Yes, please! Given that this particular icing recipe is truly exceptional, we simply couldn’t get enough of it. Consider this your gold standard for store-bought carrot cakes.

Methodology

Typically, when we rank peanut butter or natural peanut butter, we employ a single-blind methodology. This means I present the options to others for tasting without revealing the brands, allowing for a more objective final ranking. However, when it comes to taste-testing store-bought cakes, maintaining strict research controls is challenging, especially since each cake has its own unique appearance. As a result, we decided against a blind approach, and everyone was aware of which cake they were sampling.

Part of this decision stemmed from the fact that my family assisted me in sourcing the carrot cakes from various stores. Believe me, finding 10 distinct carrot cakes is more difficult than it sounds, even in the vibrant Portland metropolitan area. We ended up visiting eight different stores to gather our selection, and it wasn't feasible for me to leave the kids behind for every shopping trip. Additionally, I felt that a blind taste test would not do justice to carrot cake. Unlike peanut butter, cake is as much about visual appeal as it is about flavor, so presentation plays a significant role; I simply couldn't bring myself to cut the cakes into small, unrecognizable pieces.

We specifically evaluated the cakes across four categories: frosting, cake texture, flavor, and overall impression. The final category determined the official rankings, while the other categories served as tiebreakers when needed (which occurred in two instances). We believed it was essential to separate frosting and cake into distinct categories, as cream cheese frosting has a dedicated following. Its influence can significantly impact the final outcome, so I made sure to highlight that aspect where relevant.