At the sake bar Courtney Kaplan and Chef Charles Namba opened next to their Tsubaki izakaya, they serve a stellar seasonal muffin featuring carrots from legendary Chino Farm. Their carrot cake contains guava jam and sports cream cheese frosting decorated with edible orange flower petals.

This California French restaurant in the former Campanile space has become well known for Walter Manzke’s refined yet comforting cooking, but don’t sleep on Margarita Manzke‘s mighty talents. Republique’s pastry chef and co-owner created a gluten-free loaf that is crispy outside, soft inside, crafted with almond flour, carrot flecked, and dusted with powdered sugar.

Owners Catarah Hampshire and Shoneji Robison captured victory on “Cupcake Wars.” Inside Baldwin Hills Crenshaw mall, near Sears, they produce comforting Southern-tinged desserts, including a carrot cake crafted with walnuts, cinnamon, pineapple, carrot strands, and cream cheese frosting featuring sugared carrot strands.

The only savory “cake” in this guide can be found at Jessica Koslow’s daylight café in Virgil Village. Nothing stays the same under this rising star’s watch, though you’ll typically find a lunch-time socca cake, a Provencal pancake that comes graced with chives. Greens always come on the side, but enlightening yogurt could contain cumin or sweet pea, depending on what ingredients are popping at the farmers market.

Susan Sarich has built a bakery empire in upscale SoCal communities based on upscale versions of childhood favorites and sleek design. Her cakes are all good, including a moist slab of carrot cake studded with carrots, raisins, golden raisins and pecans, layered with praline and liberally slathered with cream cheese frosting.

Valerie Gordon, a finalist for a James Beard Award for her cookbook “Sweet,” occasionally sells cake by the slice at the cafes she and partner Stan Weightman run in Echo Park and Historic Filipinotown. However, whole cakes are available to order from their production kitchen. Expect a textbook carrot cake, with distinct carrot flavor, warm spices, and cream cheese frosting.