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    Home » Recipes » Gluten-Free Desserts

    Published: Dec 30, 2017 · Modified: Jun 23, 2020 by Jen Wooster

    Healthy Carrot Cake with Maple Frosting

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    carrot cake recipe for pinterest
    healthy carrot cake recipe for pinterest

    A healthy carrot cake recipe with maple frosting. This recipe is gluten-free, dairy-free, and naturally sweetened without refined sugars. Topped with our favorite dairy-free maple frosting.  And yes raisins are optional but we are absolutely on team raisin!

    This recipe is typically baked in a regular square baking pan and frosted in the pan. But for fun we added instructions for individual cut out cakes.

    completed carrot cake
    Healthy Carrot Cake

    This post may include affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Please read the entire post for tips and tricks to ensure a perfect recipe every time. And don't forget to tag @peelwithzeal on Instagram so we can admire your creation!

    Let’s start this post by wishing Mr. Peel a very happy birthday… Now the birthday man despises red velvet cake, likes spice cake and obsesses over carrot cake. He wanted the real deal for his birthday so I whipped up a healthy carrot cake, free of dairy and gluten. But it is his birthday, we splurged with eggs and coconut sugar. We live dangerously around here.

    Jump to:
    • 🧾Ingredients
    • ⏲️Cake Instructions
    • 🎂Dairy-Free Maple Frosting
    • 🍰How to Make Individual Cakes
    • 🧁More Healthy Desserts
    • 📖 Recipe
    • Healthy Carrot Cake with Maple Frosting
    • ⭐Reviews

    And while Mr. Peel was devouring his healthy carrot cake the dogs got some birthday cake too. Yep, Pumpkin Dog Cupcakes for my little guys.  Now back to our cake at hand...

    🧾Ingredients

    This recipe has all the standard cake ingredients with a few healthy substitutes!

    Carrot Cake Ingredeints

    • Gluten-Free Flour Blend- We used America's Test Kitchen gluten-free flour blend for this recipe. We have had good luck with both King Arthur's and Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour blends. 
    • Cake Stuff- Baking powder, baking soda, and salt
    • Spices- Ground cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and vanilla extract. You can always use vanilla paste or powder. Feeling cheeky? Add a little crystalize ginger chopped into small pieces.
    • Eggs- I have not tried flax eggs but assumed they work fine for this recipe.
    • Coconut sugar
    • Molasses- You don't need much but a little molasses gives this cake a depth of flavor that most carrot cakes are lacking.
    • Applesauce- Unsweetened applesauce adds extra moisture to the cake without the fat and calories of more oil.
    • Coconut oil- Make sure it is melted so it doesn't seize up in the cake.
    • Carrots- Pro tip, hand grate the carrots so they don't become watery.
    • Walnuts- Don't have walnuts? Try pecans or even hazelnuts.
    • Raisins- Optional but classic.

    Maple Frosting Ingredients

    • Coconut cream- Not coconut milk. Make sure you chill your can in the fridge before getting started.
    • Maple Syrup- Use high-quality maple syrup for the best flavor.
    • Vanilla
    • Crystallized Ginger- Optional but so worth it!

    ⏲️Cake Instructions

    Making this carrot cake is baking 101.  We mix the dry ingredients, then the wet ingredients. Next, you combine. And into the oven to bake. 

    Unlike some gluten and dairy free baking, this carrot cake recipe is a cinch!

    The walnuts and raisins are optional.  You can add any mix totaling to one cup.

    stirring in raisins and walnuts by hand

    Personally, I like dried cherries and pecans but it wasn’t MY birthday so Mr. Peel insisted we stick with the classic carrot cake combination.

    After the carrot cake has cooled, simply top with the maple frosting and serve right out of the pan. 

    🎂Dairy-Free Maple Frosting

    Chill the can of coconut cream while prepping the cake.The colder the coconut cream the easier it is to work with.

    Pour the entire can into a mixing bowl. Beat on high until light and fluffy. Be patient it takes a minute. Add the maple syrup and vanilla. I typically use at least the 2 tablespoons for max maple flavor.

    I love adding the crystallized ginger but I can’t always find it.  If you have some on hand, finely dice and hand fold it into the frosting.

    Quickly get to work frosting the cake. If the frosting gets to warm place in the fridge to chill for 15 minutes and start again.

    🍰How to Make Individual Cakes

    Make the carrot cake according to the recipe. Allow the cake to cool completely.

    cake cooling on cutting board

    Cut around the edge and carefully flip the cake onto a baking sheet or large cutting board.

    trimming top off cake to flatten

    Use a bread knife to trim off the rounded top so that the cake is completely flat.

    Keep the scraps for snacks or cakepops.

    cutting out round miniature cakes

    Using a 4-inch round cookie cutter (or a large glass). Cut out rounds. You will need two per cake.

    completed cake

    Frost the minicakes directly on the serving plate. Place a small amoutn of frosting and place the first layer.

    Pipe on frosting and place the second layer on top. Decorate as desired.

    🧁More Healthy Desserts

    We hoped you enjoyed our favorite carrot cake recipe! We try to keep desserts as healthy as possible around. Here are few we think you might like!

    Sweet Potato Crunch

    A creamy sweet potato filling with a praline-like crunchy pecan topping. This version is gluten-free, dairy-free, and on the healthier side but still decadent!
    go to recipe Pin for later
    Sweet potato crunch in a white casserole dish.

    Gluten-Free Peach Crisp

    The best gluten free peach crisp recipe tusing juicy peaches, almonds, and honey. Easy to make with fresh or frozen peaches.
    go to recipe Pin for later
    gluten free peach crisp on a plate with ice cream

    Gluten-Free Protein Buckeyes

    Vegan Buckeye candy recipe is low carb, keto, and refined sugar-free. Packed with protein, healthy, and easy to make.
    go to recipe Pin for later
    keo buckeyes on parchment

    If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave us a rating or a comment. It helps other wonderful people connect with our food.

    📖 Recipe

    healthy carrot cake on plate

    Healthy Carrot Cake with Maple Frosting

    Recipe Created By: Jen Wooster
    A gluten and dairy-free take on the classic carrot cake. Refined sugar-free and naturally sweet. Make as individual cakes or one large cake.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 40 mins
    Total Time 55 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 12 serving (or 5 mini cakes)
    Calories 365 kcal

    Equipment

    • Mixing bowl
    • Stand or hand mixer
    • 8x8 baking pan
    • Round cookie cutter, optional for individual cakes

    Ingredients
      

    Carrot Cake

    • 2 c gluten free flour blend
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
    • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
    • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon ginger
    • pinch ground clove
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 c coconut sugar
    • 1 tablespoon molasses
    • 1 c applesauce, unsweetened
    • ⅓ c coconut oil, melted plus more for pan
    • 2 c carrots, grated
    • ½ c walnuts, chopped optional
    • ½ c raisins optional

    Maple Frosting

    • 1 can coconut cream 14 oz approx.
    • 1-2 tablespoon pure maple syrup
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
    • ⅛ c crystallized ginger, chopped optional

    Instructions
     

    Carrot Cake

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease your baking pan with extra coconut oil.
    • Add dry ingredients (GF flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, clove, and nutmeg) to a mixing bowl. Mix well to combine and set aside.
    • In a large mixing bowl combine eggs, vanilla, sugar, molasses and applesauce. Mix on high until creamy. While the mixer is running slowly pour in the melted coconut oil.
    • Add the dry ingredients to the wet slowly. Mix until the batter well combined and there are no big lumps.
    • Gently fold in grated carrots, nuts, and fruit by hand.
    • Bake 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Allow cake to cool completely before frosting.

    Maple Frosting

    • Chill the can of coconut cream while prepping the cake.
    • Pour the entire can into a mixing bowl. Beat on high until light and fluffy. Be patient it takes a minute.
    • Whip in maple syrup and vanilla.
    • Gently fold in crystallized ginger, if using.
    • Ice cake quickly. If the frosting gets to warm place in fridge to chill for 15 minutes and start again.

    Notes

    1. Hand grate carrots, using a food processor makes them too moist.
    2. Sub 1 cup granulated sugar or ½ c granulated sugar + ½ c brown sugar for the coconut sugar and molasses.
    3. We used America's Test Kitchen gluten-free flour blend for this recipe. We have had good luck with both King Arthur's and Bob's Red Mill gluten-free flour blends. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 365kcal | Carbs: 42g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 22g | Fiber: 5g
    Keyword Carrot Cake, Frosting, Maple
    Tried this recipe?Tag us @peelwithzeal so we can see your creation!

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      Recipe Rating




    1. kim says

      June 23, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      Loved this recipe! It was so scrumptious with the best texture! Will definitely be making again!

      Reply
    2. Haley D. Williams says

      June 23, 2020 at 1:37 pm

      5 stars
      Omg I love this maple frosting so much! The perfect complement to carrot cake

      Reply
      • Jen says

        June 25, 2020 at 2:09 pm

        Glad it was a hit!

        Reply
    3. Angela says

      June 23, 2020 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      What a great recipe! The frosting was wonderful. The crystallized ginger is definitely a must!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        June 25, 2020 at 2:09 pm

        Agreed! Wish the ginger was easier to find.

        Reply
    4. Biana says

      June 23, 2020 at 12:55 pm

      5 stars
      I love carrot cake, and am very glad to find your healthier frosting recipe! Definitely a great alternative to a traditional carrot cake frosting.

      Reply
    5. Beth says

      June 23, 2020 at 12:45 pm

      5 stars
      I love it when I see healthy and cake in a title! Especially this one because carrot cake is one of my all time favorites and I haven't eaten it in decades because of the lactose! This cake did not disappoint! Thank you for adding carrot cake back to my diet!

      Reply
      • Jen says

        June 25, 2020 at 2:10 pm

        Hahaha! You are welcome.

        Reply

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    Welcome Friends!

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    My name is Jen and I am the recipe developer, writer, and photographer around here. Since being diagnosed with celiac disease over 10 years ago I have been slowly curating a recipe box full of gluten-free goodness. I adore vegetables, crave chocolate, and I am always up for an adventure.

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