Description
A nutritious twist on the classic carrot cake using wholesome ingredients for a guilt-free dessert.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups whole wheat flour or almond flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ tsp salt
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup maple syrup, honey, or stevia
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or raisins (optional)
- 2 cups grated carrots (about 3–4 medium carrots)
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened (optional frosting)
- 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce (frosting)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (frosting)
- Sweetener to taste (frosting)
- A splash of lemon juice (frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Prepare a 9-inch round cake pan by greasing and flouring it or lining it with parchment paper.
- Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt in a large bowl.
- Whisk the eggs, applesauce, sweetener, and vanilla extract in another bowl until smooth.
- Pour the wet mixture into the dry mixture and stir until just combined.
- Fold in the grated carrots and optional walnuts or raisins.
- Bake for 40–45 minutes, checking doneness with a toothpick.
- Cool the cake in the pan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Beat together the cream cheese, applesauce, vanilla, and desired sweetener for frosting, if using.
- Frost the cooled cake and serve it sliced.
Notes
Serve at room temperature or slightly chilled. It can be paired with whipped cream or fresh fruit.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 80mg