Made with a secret ingredient (it’s love).
Healthier Carrot Cake
Course: SweetsCuisine: American, Dairy Free
Servings
12
slicesPrep time
20
minutesCooking time
1
hourTotal time
1
hour20
minutesIngredients
1 1/2 cups 1 1/2 all-purpose flour
1 tsp 1 baking powder
3/4 tsp 3/4 baking soda
1/4 tsp 1/4 salt
1 tsp 1 ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp 1/2 ground ginger
1/4 tsp 1/4 ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp 1/4 cloves
1/2 cup 1/2 coconut oil, melted and cooled
2 2 eggs, room temperature
1 1/4 cups 1 1/4 coconut sugar
1/3 cup 1/3 unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp 1 vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups 1 1/2 carrots, peeled and shredded (plus a light chop after shredding) – could also use apple or zucchini!
Optional mix ins: 3/4 cup walnuts or pecans, raisins, or dried cranberries
- Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting
4 oz 4 cream cheese (dairy free if needed)
3/4 cup 3/4 powdered sugar
1/2 tsp 1/2 vanilla extract
1/4 tsp 1/4 cinnamon
1/4 tsp 1/4 salt
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and cooking spray to allow for easy removal after baking.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk coconut oil, eggs, coconut sugar, applesauce, and vanilla until combined. Fold in carrots.
- Pour wet ingredients into dry and gently whisk until just combined. Fold in nuts/add ins. Batter will be semi thick.
- Spread batter into loaf pan. Bake for 50-60 minutes, covering loosely with aluminum foil halfway through to prevent top from over browning. Baking times vary so keep an eye on it! The loaf is done when a toothpick comes out mostly clean with no raw batter. Remove the bread from the oven.
- Make your frosting while you allow the bread to cool completely by using a hand or stand mixer to beat the cream cheese in a medium bowl on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Add in sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Taste and add more cinnamon and/or salt if desired. Remember you can always add more but can’t take any out!
- Gentle frost cooled bread. Slice and serve.
