Carrot cake: the vegetable is part of the cake itself

Useful to know

Grated carrot is part of carrot cake’s batter, not simply a decoration added afterwards. King Arthur’s recipe combines it with the other ingredients to produce the intended texture. [1]

Follow the specified preparation and quantity. Changing the size of the grated pieces or adding an arbitrary amount alters the mixture. Compare the full recipe, including its tin and doneness checks. A topping does not establish how the cake underneath was made, and an attractive exterior does not replace checking its centre.