Photo: Nik Sharma

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A Reminder That Change Can Be Great
Nik Sharma, of A Brown Table, knows how lovable carrot cakes are: They're simple and rustic "yet absolutely delicious." He couldn't help tinkering with tradition, though, and when he flavored the classic with chai, he knew he'd struck gold. The warm spices—he used cardamom, ginger and cinnamon—are a perfect complement to the sweet carrot. One more switch: Nik skipped the vanilla flavor in the cream cheese frosting in favor of pistachio. His readers loved it and it's one of his most popular recipes to date.

Get the recipe: Masala-Chai Carrot Cake