Description
A nutritious twist on the classic carrot cake, using whole wheat flour or almond flour and natural sweeteners.
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 the 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 the dry ingredients in a large bowl: whole wheat flour (or almond flour), baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt.
- Whisk the wet ingredients in another bowl: eggs, unsweetened applesauce, sweetener, and vanilla extract.
- Combine the wet mixture with the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.
- Fold in the grated carrots and optional walnuts or raisins.
- Pour the batter into the prepared cake pan.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Make the optional frosting by beating together the cream cheese, unsweetened applesauce, vanilla extract, and sweetener.
- Frost the cooled cake and serve.
Notes
Store at room temperature for a couple of days; refrigerate for longer storage or freeze for up to 3 months. Consider garnishing with chopped nuts or grated carrots.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 12g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: healthy carrot cake, moist dessert, nutritious cake, carrot dessert