Description
A moist, spiced, and wholesome carrot cake made with whole wheat or almond flour, applesauce, and natural sweeteners. Perfect for a guilt-free dessert or celebration.
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 oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour or line a 9-inch round cake pan.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt in a bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, applesauce, sweetener, and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour wet mixture into dry mixture and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in grated carrots and optional nuts or raisins.
- Pour batter into prepared pan and bake for 40–45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- If making frosting, beat cream cheese, applesauce, vanilla, and sweetener until smooth. Add lemon juice to taste.
- Frost cooled cake and slice to serve.
Notes
This cake is naturally sweetened and can be made gluten-free with almond flour. Frosting is optional for a lighter treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 9g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 55mg