The Finest Wholesome Carrot Cake You will Ever Eat (gluten free!)

Over the previous few years, carrot cake has turn out to be my favourite cake on the planet. I like that it’s full of spices, tremendous moist, stuffed with unbelievable taste and loads of texture due to carrots, coconut, raisins and nuts.

The place my carrot cake lovers at?!

As most of you understand, I LOVE baking cake recipes for particular events: paleo chocolate cake, tahini chocolate chip cake, my strawberry shortcake cake and my peanut butter banana cake are just some of my favorites.

So I assumed to myself, why not make a more healthy, paleo-friendly and gluten free carrot cake that’s completely good for springtime and particularly Easter? To make it more healthy, I used pure unrefined sweeteners, grain free nutrient-dense flours and some different particular components to maintain it deliciously moist and true to the carrot cake taste everyone knows and love.

That is really the BEST wholesome carrot cake you’ll ever eat!

healthy gluten free carrot cake topped with pecans

What you’ll have to make this wholesome gluten free carrot cake

This wholesome carrot cake requires a couple of specialty components, however belief me once I say that this can completely be the BEST wholesome carrot cake you’ll EVER eat. Right here’s what you want:

  • Almond flour: I like to recommend utilizing a superb blanched almond flour. Be sure you pack the almond flour such as you would with brown sugar!
  • Coconut flour: this can be a nice gluten free flour to assist soak up moisture in recipes and likewise add fiber and diet. No have to pack the coconut flour although.
  • Finely shredded unsweetened coconut: in my view, this cake requires shredded coconut for texture. I haven’t made it with out the shredded coconut so please don’t skip it, it’s essential for texture.
  • Spices: no carrot cake is full with out the addition of cinnamon and a little bit nutmeg.
  • Vanilla extract: simply a necessary.
  • Eggs: this recipe makes use of 4 eggs to assist with consistency and texture. I’ve added some notes beneath for those who’re all for making this vegan.
  • Pure maple syrup: WOW is all I can say. The maple syrup is only a good contact to this recipe and provides a lot taste and extra moisture.
  • Tahini: whereas it’s solely a small quantity, the tahini is essential to the recipe. I believe you may add almond butter or cashew butter as an alternative however tahini is INCREDIBLE and has a singular drippy texture, not like different nut butters. Simply belief me and make the cake as is!
  • Coconut oil: For those who don’t need to use coconut oil, you may all the time use melted butter.
  • Almond milk: please know that any dairy free milk will work.
  • Carrots: this recipe makes use of 3 cups of grated carrots! I like small or medium grate for my carrot cake recipes.
  • Combine-ins: I like including raisins and chopped pecans or chopped walnuts!

Learn how to make paleo carrot cake

To make this carrot cake paleo and dairy free, merely use a dairy free cream cheese and a paleo pleasant powdered sugar choice. You may as well use Simple Mills frosting.

ingredients for healthy carrot cake on a board

Can I make this cake vegan?

I haven’t tried making this wholesome carrot cake vegan, however if you wish to strive you need to use 4 flax eggs (4 tablespoons flaxseed meal + 12 tablespoons water). Let me know within the feedback the way it works out!

Can I take advantage of all function flour?

Sadly, no, I might not suggest utilizing all function flour or any different flours on this recipe as the feel and consistency of the carrot cake will change.

healthy gluten free carrot cake on a cake stand

Suggestions for making this gluten free carrot cake

  1. Use medium grated carrots. You may grate the carrots in your food processor with the grate blade, or you need to use a hand grater.
  2. Pack the almond flour. You’ll need to be sure to pack the almond flour identical to you’d with brown sugar. Don’t pack the coconut flour.
  3. Use room temp components: be sure you let the eggs come to room temperature earlier than utilizing them within the recipe, in any other case the coconut oil will coagulate the batter. The coconut oil must be melted however not HOT, however quite nearer to room temperature.
  4. Make it forward of time. You can also make this cake 1-2 days forward of time and it’ll nonetheless be completely scrumptious!

serving spatula pulling away a slice of healthy carrot cake from the full cake on a cake stand

Methods for lovely frosting

Frosting an entire cake can appear daunting, however with these couple of ideas you’ll have a fantastically frosted wholesome carrot cake very quickly:

  1. Cool earlier than frosting. Be sure you comply with the instructions as written and wait till the muffins are fully cool earlier than frosting them. After they’re frosted, I like to recommend storing carrot cake within the fridge for optimum freshness.
  2. Do a crumb coat. Do a crumb coat for the frosting first by frosting the layers as you usually would after which coat the skin of the cake with a really skinny layer of frosting then place within the fridge for 10-Quarter-hour earlier than you end frosting. That is in order that the crumbs stick with this layer of frosting and never your essential layer.

Learn how to retailer & freeze this wholesome carrot cake

Among the finest elements about this wholesome carrot cake recipe is which you could make it 1-2 days forward of time. I wish to make the muffins forward of time and preserve them within the fridge for straightforward meeting, however you can too retailer it after you’ve frosted the cake, too!

  • To retailer: I like to recommend storing the cake lined within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
  • To freeze: be at liberty to freeze this carrot cake both frosted or unfrosted for as much as 2 months. I like to recommend freezing it unfrosted in particular person layers for the most effective outcomes. First, wrap every particular person layer in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil after which place the muffins in a zip-top freezer bag. Once you’re able to serve it, merely thaw it within the fridge in a single day after which let the cake come to room temperature earlier than serving.

slice of gluten free carrot cake on a plate

Really helpful instruments

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I do know you’re going to like this wholesome gluten free carrot cake, please let me know for those who make it by leaving a remark and score the recipe beneath. I’d love to listen to from you and it helps encourage others to make the recipe too! xo.

P.S. be at liberty to hearken to my cinnamon carrot cake playlist on spotify when you bake this!

The Finest Wholesome Carrot Cake You will Ever Eat (gluten free & paleo-friendly!)

healthy gluten free carrot cake on a cake stand

The BEST moist wholesome carrot cake you will ever eat made with almond and coconut flour and naturally sweetened with pure maple syrup. Full of coconut, raisins and pecans and topped with a scrumptious cream cheese frosting that is simply dairy free! This paleo-friendly gluten free carrot cake will likely be your new favourite carrot cake recipe.

Components

  • Dry Components:
  • 2
    cups
    packed tremendous superb blanched almond flour (I take advantage of Bob’s Pink Mill)
  • ½
    cup
    coconut flour (don’t pack)
  • ½
    cup
    unsweetened finely shredded coconut (I take advantage of Bob’s Pink Mill)
  • 1
    teaspoon
    baking soda
  • 1
    tablespoon
    floor cinnamon
  • ¼
    teaspoon
    floor nutmeg
  • 1/2
    teaspoon
    salt
  • Moist components:
  • 4
    giant eggs, at room temperature
  • 3/4
    cup
    pure maple syrup
  • 1/3
    cup
    drippy tahini (or sub almond butter however tahini has higher taste for this cake!)
  • 1/4
    cup
    unsweetened almond milk
  • 1
    teaspoon
    vanilla extract
  • 1/3
    cup
    melted and cooled coconut oil
  • 3
    cups
    shredded carrots (medium grate)
  • Elective mix-ins:
  • ½
    cup
    raisins
  • ½
    cup
    chopped pecans or walnuts
  • For the frosting:
  • ½
    cup
    salted butter, at room temperature (or sub vegan buttery stick)
  • 8
    ounces
    cream cheese, at room temperature (or sub dairy free cream cheese)
  • 3
    cups
    powdered sugar
  • 2
    teaspoons
    pure vanilla extract
  • 1
    tablespoon
    unsweetened almond milk (any milk will work)
  • For the topping:
  • Further pecans and shredded coconut

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 levels F. Line the underside of three 6-inch spherical cake pans or two 8-inch spherical cake pans with parchment paper rounds. Spray parchment paper and sides of pan with nonstick cooking spray. YOU SHOULD USE PARCHMENT PAPER or the cake is prone to stick. Please don’t forget.

  2. In a big bowl, whisk the almond flour, coconut flour, unsweetened shredded coconut, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt collectively. Put aside.

  3. In a big bowl, whisk collectively the eggs, pure maple syrup, tahini, almond milk, vanilla extract till easy. 

  4. Slowly whisk within the melted and cooled coconut oil till it’s properly included, then stir within the carrots. Be aware: It is vital that your eggs are at room temperature in any other case the coconut oil with coagulate. The coconut oil must be melted however not HOT, however quite nearer to room temp.

  5. Add dry components to moist components and blend with a wood spoon till properly mixed. Stir in raisins and nuts, if utilizing.

  6. Divide batter evenly between pans and unfold out with a spatula to easy the tops. Bake for 22-32 minutes within the two 8-inch pans and 30-40 minutes for 3 6-inch pans.

  7. Desserts are achieved when a tester comes out clear or with just some crumbs connected. Permit cake to chill fully earlier than frosting or eradicating from the pans. The cake must be room temperature once you frost it. This is essential. Desserts could be made a day forward for those who’d like.

  8. Make your frosting: Within the bowl of an electrical mixer, add the softened butter and cream cheese and whip on excessive till mild and fluffy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla extract and milk and beat for 2-3 minutes extra.

  9. Now it’s time to frost the cake: place about 1 tablespoon down onto onto the cake stand and unfold out. Invert cake onto the cake stand, add about ½ heaping cup frosting between every layer, repeat with every cake, then frost the highest and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting. 

  10. Enhance cake with pecans and shredded coconut on prime. As soon as you might be achieved frosting, place the cake to the fridge. Cake will keep good for 5-7 days within the fridge, and must be lined to make sure freshness. Serves 16.

Recipe Notes

To make dairy free/paleo: use vegan butter (I like to recommend Earth Steadiness) and a dairy free cream cheese corresponding to Kite Hill. You may additionally want to make use of a paleo powdered sugar. You may as well use Easy Mills Frosting in its place.

To make vegan: I have never tried making this cake vegan, however if you wish to strive you need to use 4 flax eggs (4 tablespoons flaxseed meal + 12 tablespoons water).

Learn how to retailer carrot cake: I like to recommend storing the cake lined within the fridge for as much as 5 days. See the complete submit for freezing directions!

 

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Bold Kitchen | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats

This recipe was initially printed on April 1, 2019, republished on April 6, 2020, up to date & republished on March 26, 2021, and republished on March twenty second, 2023.