Aside from a simple sweet tooth fix, wouldn’t you agree that desserts seem to have a direct line to our memories?

I suppose it’s why we commonly think of sweet treats as nostalgic.

When I bite into a rich, decadently sweet, and fudgy brownie, I can’t help but think of rainy nights, pjs, and movies because whipping up a batch complete with walnuts and frosting was a common occurrence prior to settling in for a snuggle session on the couch when outdoor plans would be canceled due to rain.

Ah, and carrot cake...out of any and all types of cake, this sweet and spicy confection transports my mind over, around, and all throughout my family tree.

You see, my grandpa’s sister, Bonnie, was the carrot cake queen in our family, and anytime this dessert was mentioned in earshot of any one of us, you’d hear something kindly spoken about my great aunt Bonnie’s coveted recipe.

Though, while I can assure you this cake is phenomenal, what I enjoy just as much as its flavor is the nostalgic trip down memory lane that accompanies each and every bite.

When I taste sweet, fluffy, cream cheese frosting effortlessly taming an abundant dose of spicy and sweet cinnamon, creamy nutmeg, and a pinch of ginger and cloves, complete with hickory nuts (not pecans), I think of the stories my grandpa told me from his childhood with his brother and sisters.

When I peel and grate carrot after carrot to make my aunt’s prized cake, I think of sitting on the cement ledge in front of my grandparents’ fireplace, positioned right next to my grandma’s recliner, hearing her explain each tip and trick she’d learned over the years in making this dessert turned family treasure.

And, whenever I press my fork downward through layers of frosting and spicy, moist, brown cake, the flecks of orange carrot pieces seem to stare at me like the sands of time in an hourglass, the sweet tastes echoing the years of love I experienced through my grandparents.

Yes, all of these memories, all of this love, flood my mind and heart as these tastes dance across my tastebuds!

But of course, as wonderful as these nostalgic memory lane trips may be, eating carrot cake on a regular, even daily, basis wouldn’t be the best thing for my health or waistline.

And, I think this is part of why I love our flavored coffees so very much.

The richest, most memory evoking, and flavorful components of desserts…well, we all know how nicely these pair with a piping hot cup of coffee, right?

And, when these flavors are infused into our beloved medium roast, I’ve found that each sip transports me to those fond times, these memories which seem to be concretely attached to such incredible tastes.

What about you?

Speaking specifically of the classic flavors of rich, fluffy, cream cheese frosted, spicy, moist carrot cake swirling amidst bold, smooth coffee - where do these tastes transport your thoughts?

As you allow those flavors to escort your heart and mind through any and all pleasant memories associated with this confection even now, let’s also discover a brief bit of history behind carrot cake, one of America’s most treasured and favorite confections.

Then, stick around for some of our favorite ways to prepare this nostalgic, and incredibly delicious, treat - Frosted Carrot Cake Coffee!

Carrot Cake Origins

Before we mozy on into the kitchen to prepare some incredible frosted carrot cake cups of joe, I wanted to share a little bit of history with you that I found quite interesting.

It seems that many historians believe this confection originated in the Middle Ages.

During this time, the cost of sugar was unbelievably high, so this left folks searching for more economical ways to sweeten desserts.

Carrots, of course, were commonly grown during this time and many took note of the sweetness these vegetables added to dishes. So, carrots, along with other easily obtained items such as parsnips and zucchini, became natural, and less expensive, ways to sweeten desserts.

Carrot pudding was a common treat served throughout this period, and it is believed that this dessert was the inspiration for what we now know as carrot cake.

As for the popularity of this confection, this seems to have originated in England during the second World War.

During this time, government officials in Britain enforced the rationing of foods, even encouraging citizens to grow healthy vegetables such as carrots to be used in a variety of dishes, including desserts.

The success of British gunners during the Blitzkrieg was actually attributed to their consumption of carrots, which further led to citizens searching for more and more ways to include carrots in all kinds of cuisine.

Then, by the mid-1900’s, the Philadelphia Cream Cheese Co. advertised their product by including it in a recipe made specifically for frosting spicy, sweet, carrot cake.

And, while we all recognize this treat for what it is today, a decadently sweet indulgence, in the 1970’s folks once thought of carrot cake as a health food due to its vegetable content.

Thankfully, while we realize this treat isn’t exactly a healthy part of our regular diet, we can enjoy the flavors of this timeless classic infused into low acid, clean, healthy, antioxidant rich, nutrient-dense coffee regularly, reaping all the benefits of coffee without any of the guilt of consuming a large slice of rich and spicy frosted carrot cake!

So, let’s move into the kitchen now and discover some unique and tasty ways to enjoy this incredibly delicious and nostalgic brew…

Frosted Carrot Cake

The perfect combination of nostalgia and decadence

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5 Fabulous Frosted Carrot Cake Coffee Recipes

1- Spiced Carrot Cake Cold Brew

We wanted to start this collection of recipes with a tasty treat that utilizes a few of our products we commonly use to take our daily brews to the next level.

First, in this recipe you’ll have the option to use our EverLo Coffee Drops. These are our electrolyte drops which not only provide hydrating and health-boosting minerals and nutrients, but they also work to lower the acidity of coffee as well as enhance the overall flavor and smoothness of any brew.

Then, we’re including a creamy, protein-packed way to top this tasty concoction using our FitFoam protein powder. Not only does the vanilla flavor enhance these same notes in the flavored coffee, it also creates a beautiful, creamy, delicious foam to rest atop your java, providing what I like to call a flavor-sieve through which you can sip your brew.

One taste and I think you’ll agree…this one is truly outstanding!

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Frosted Carrot Cake Coffee
• 6-8 drops Lifeboost Everlo Coffee Drops (optional for an even smoother coffee taste)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
• ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ¾ cup oat milk (or milk of your choice)
• 1 scoop Lifeboost FitFoam
• 2 ounces room temperature water
• 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream

Instructions

• Add ice to a tall glass (I like to use coffee ice cubes here to keep my brew cold but not watered down).
• Pour cold brew, spices, vanilla, and oat milk over the ice in the glass, stirring to combine. *If you’d like, you can add all of these items to a shaker cup and shake together to allow the spices to better incorporate prior to pouring over the ice in the glass.
• In a separate, small, glass, combine room temperature water, one scoop of FitFoam, and 1 tablespoon of heavy whipping cream. Using a handheld frother, froth until you reach a desired consistency.
• Pour frothed foam over your prepared cold brew, and enjoy!

2- Carrot Cake Latte

This latte has all of the flavors of my aunt Bonnie’s pride and joy, her carrot cake that I introduced you to in the introduction of our time here today.

Now, as an adult, I realize her recipe is very similar to many other carrot cakes you can find in various cookbooks or online, but while I can’t really put my finger on the how or the why, her recipe just yielded a supremely moist and flavorful dessert.

And, this healthy latte uniquely, exactly, reminds me of her own cake (minus the frosting)!

Ingredients

• 6 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Frosted Carrot Cake Coffee
• ¼ cup carrot juice (you can use store bought, but if you have a juicer, I highly recommend making your own carrot juice)
• 1 cup organic unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 pitted medjool dates
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions

• Add carrot juice, coconut milk, dates, cinnamon, and ginger to a blender, and blend until smooth.
• Pour blended mixture into a small saucepan and heat over low-medium heat until the mixture is completely warmed, stirring occasionally.
• Brew coffee and add to a large mug.
• Pour warmed spiced carrot milk over the coffee, and stir slightly to combine.
• Top with a dusting of cinnamon, if desired, and enjoy!

3- Cream Cheese Frosted Carrot Cake Cold Brew

If you’re a fan of cream cheese frosting, you’re going to love this recipe!

Foam toppers can truly take your coffee to the next level, but when you think of carrot cake, you likely think of a cream cheese topping, right? And, this can be a little disappointing because surely you can’t actually make a cream cheese frosting topper for your brew…or can you…

This is fabulous on iced coffee or cold brew, but if you prefer your java hot, you can simply add your preferred milk choice and/or sweetener to your regular cup then top with the cream cheese foam which will still be slightly cool but a great companion to your brew (hot or cold).

**Note: If you can’t find vanilla powder, which is a blend of vanilla and fine sugar, you can simply use a fine sugar here with ¼ teaspoon pure vanilla extract when making the cream cheese frosting foam to top your brew.

Ingredients

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Frosted Carrot Cake Coffee
• 4 ounces milk (your choice, dairy or non)
• Ice
• 1 ounce cream cheese, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons heavy cream, chilled
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 tablespoon vanilla powder

Instructions

• Add ice to a tall glass and top with cold brew, set aside.
• Add cream cheese and vanilla powder to a small bowl and mix with a hand mixer, using the whisk attachment, on low speed. Once the mixture combines, move to high speed and whisk until light and fluffy.
• Add heavy cream to the cream cheese mixture and whip/whisk until combined, but still fluffy.
• Add milk to the mixture and whisk with the attachment until the topping is light, fluffy, but also semi-pourable.
• Pour or spoon the mixture over the cold brew, and enjoy!

*If you’d like to add a little extra spice here, simply top your brew with a dusting of ground cinnamon and/or nutmeg.

4- Creamy Carrot Cake Coffee Smoothie

If you’ve tried multiple carrot cakes, or even if you’ve sifted through multiple recipes in books or online sites, one thing you’ll find is this dessert can widely vary in the ingredients used in its making.

Some incorporate nuts, some carrot cake recipes call for raisins, in others you’ll find the addition of pineapple, and you might even notice that some require the addition of coconut flakes.

So, as you can imagine, when it comes to creating a tasty carrot cake flavored coffee beverage, the possibilities are equally as endless…though in the case of such drinks, you might find you’re a little less set in your ways and a bit more open to those extra ingredient suggestions.

This carrot cake coffee smoothie includes just about every possible recipe “extra” you can think of to produce not only a truly delicious drink but a health-boosting, balanced treat for any meal of the day…not just dessert!

Ingredients (serves 2+)

• 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Frosted Carrot Cake Coffee
• 2 large carrots
• 1 large banana
• 2 cups almond milk
• 1 cup frozen pineapple
• 1 tablespoon coconut flakes
• Handful baby spinach
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to a high powered blender and blend on high until smooth and creamy. Enjoy!

5- Carrot Cream Coffee Cocktail

This coffee cocktail puts a tasty, spring-inspired spin on a classic White Russian.

Made with coffee liqueur, vanilla vodka, carrot cake coffee, all-spice dram liqueur, and homemade carrot cream, you can serve this decadent and creamy offering at your next brunch to wow your guests or serve it alongside a delicious slice of your favorite carrot cake recipe for an after-dinner treat!

Ingredients

• 2 ounces strongly brewed Lifeboost Frosted Carrot Cake Coffee (chilled)
• 2 ounces vanilla vodka
• ¾ ounce coffee liqueur
• ¼ ounce allspice dram liqueur
• 1 ounce carrot cream (see recipe below)
• ice

Instructions

• Add ice to a cocktail glass, then pour in coffee, vodka, coffee liqueur, and dram.
• Stir gently to combine, then top with a desired amount of carrot cream. Enjoy!

Homemade Carrot Cream

• ½ cup heavy whipping cream
• ¼ cup fresh carrot juice
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stirring frequently (to avoid scorching), bring mixture to a low boil.

As soon as the sugar is completely dissolved, turn the temperature to low and simmer to allow the mixture to slightly thicken.

Once slightly thickened and creamy, remove from heat and strain with a fine mesh strainer.

Allow the mixture to cool completely, then skim the top prior to using the cream in the cocktail.

Check out Lifeboost Coffee Frosted Carrot Cake.

Becky Livingston Vance Content writer

Becky is a mother, educator, and content writer for Lifeboost Coffee. She has had three years’ experience as a writer, and in that time she has enjoyed creatively composing articles and ebooks covering the topics of coffee, health and fitness, education, recipes, and relationships.