Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe - paleo, gluten free, low carb

This Healthy Carrot Cake is made with coconut flour, which makes it a gluten-free, clean eating, paleo and low-carb option. Frosting options range from whipped coconut cream, dairy-free yogurt or traditional cream cheese icing. The bottom line is that you will be able to serve this cake to almost anyone no matter their diet or preference. I recommend you keep this in your back pocket whenever you require something sweet to share with friends or family.

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How To Make Healthy Carrot Cake

Healthy to me mainly means minimally processed, real food ingredients, which is essentially clean eating. So for this easy healthy carrot cake, I went with coconut flour as a less refined alternative to white flour. Coconut flour is a byproduct of the coconut milk making process. (Read more about that in my post about What to do with a fresh coconut). It has the consistency of traditional wheat flour with a slightly sweet coconut flavour, which makes it excellent for any dessert recipe including this carrot cake recipe.

If you are used to doing gluten-free baking, you may have coconut flour on hand already. Just be sure that it is perfectly fresh before you use it. Coconut flour should have a nutty and sweet scent when it is fresh, but it does go rancid quickly once it has been opened. This is because coconut flour has a higher amount of oil in it than whole wheat flour. For this reason, I recommend you store it in the fridge or freezer rather than a pantry cupboard. In the fridge, it should keep for up to 6 months, whereas it should keep in the freezer for up to a year. You can do the same for all of your nut flours, too, so they retain freshness for the long term.

If you have never baked with coconut flour and don't know where to find it, it is relatively easy to locate. Generally, it should be available in the natural food section or baking aisle of your local grocery store. Bulk stores are another great option to find it. If you are really having trouble finding it, though, you can always order it online.

It is an incredibly healthy flour because is lower in carbs than traditional flour. It is also quite high in fiber from a nutritional standpoint.

Baking with Coconut Flour

Baking with coconut flour can be challenging compared to baking with wheat flour, because it is so unique in the way it behaves. Since coconut flour is hygroscopic, which means that it soaks up a lot of liquid, it can't really be substituted in any recipes. For that reason, I developed a specific coconut flour carrot cake recipe. Coconut flour recipes require more liquid, oil and eggs to create a moist batter that also holds together.

One of the benefits of baking cake recipes with all-purpose flour is that the gluten in it creates a fluffy texture that is difficult to achieve in gluten-free desserts. This is something you won't miss here, though, as the combination of textured ingredients like nuts and shredded carrot, as well as wet components like pineapple and dairy-free milk, absorb into the coconut flour, giving the cake a soft-crumbed mouthfeel.

In this healthy carrot cake recipe, I also use ¼ cup tapioca starch in combination with the ½ cup coconut flour to create a finer crumb texture. Arrowroot flour can be substituted, as it is very similar in texture to tapioca starch and has a similarly mild taste. Another bonus is that these ingredients are gluten-free, which means that even those who can't traditionally enjoy cake-like desserts, will be able to have this easy carrot cake.

Furthermore, the carrots help to keep this gluten-free carrot cake moist. I suggest using the large side on a box grater to grate the carrots, because they will show up better in the cake. If they are too fine, they will just dissolve into the cake. The crushed pineapple that I like in my carrot cake recipes also helps to moisten the cake. I know that not everyone is a fan of pineapple in carrot cake, though, so I am leaving it as an optional ingredient. You might like adding some raisins instead though.

Another thing I love in food is contrasting textures. In a smooth and moist dessert like this clean eating carrot cake, I love having some bits of crunchy pecans or walnuts in every bite. Ideally, you could toast these lightly in the oven and allow them to cool before stirring into your carrot cake batter. To do this, simply lay the nuts in an even layer on a baking sheet and toast in a 350 F (177 C) until fragrant smelling and lightly golden. In total, this should take about 5 minutes or so.

If you will be serving this to someone who is allergic to nuts, but can't do without the crunch, some toasted sunflower seeds might do the trick as a substitute. These are a little earthier than pecans or walnuts, but are also very delicious.

The pecans or walnuts are what takes a great cake to over-the-top awesome in my option. But again, I know that not everyone shares my love for nuts or contrasting textures, so feel free to omit them, if desired or sub in some sunflower seeds for a nut-free option.

Paleo Carrot Cake Muffins with Coconut Flour

This recipe can also be turned into the best carrot cake muffins/cupcakes. Just divide the batter into 12 muffin tin cavities.

When making coconut flour muffins or cupcakes you want to be sure to line the pan with silicone baking cups or parchment liners. Otherwise, they just fuse to the pan too much and there'll be no way to remove them cleanly.

When turning this recipe into healthy carrot muffins, the baking time reduces to about 14-18 minutes. An ideal way to test the doneness of muffins or cake is to insert a skewer into the center. If it comes out clean or with just a few crumbs, it will be done. You could also test the doneness of the cakes by pressing the tops with a finger. If the indentation holds, the carrot cake still needs time. If the cake springs right back after being pressed, the cakes should be sufficiently baked through.

You don't want to overbake your muffins, as this may result in a dry texture. Overbrowning around the edges or cracking can be signs of overbaking. Keep reading for a healthier frosting option to pipe on top to turn the muffins into carrot cake cupcakes fancy enough for dessert!

If you really want to get fancy, you could also turn the cake into a layer cake. To do this, line a circular 8-inch pan or even a 7-inch with parchment. A smaller pan will allow more depth to the cake.

Once cooled, you can slice it in half horizontally and stack the layers with some frosting sandwiched in between them. You could increase the frosting recipe so that you can coat the sides or simply spread the icing on the top and leave the sides uncoated. It is entirely up to you!

Low Carb Carrot Cake

To make this a healthy carrot cake with no sugar, be sure to omit the maple syrup. Use your sugar-free sweetener of choice in it its place.

I recommend monk fruit syrup - it even comes in maple flavour.

Healthy Carrot Cake Frosting

There are many different ways you can give this flourless carrot cake a healthy frosting, such as cream cheese frosting or whipped coconut cream.

1. My favorite is a super simple healthy cream cheese frosting. It's just cream cheese with a little vanilla extract and a touch of maple syrup for sweetening.
2. In this same recipe, you can substitute the cream cheese with thick Greek-style yogurt or a dairy-free yogurt alternative, if cream cheese doesn't fit your idea of healthy.
3. Another go-to healthy frosting of my is Whipped Coconut Cream. I just love it!! It's great on cakes or cupcakes, blended drinks or even just for dipping strawberries.
4. My friend Michele - The Paleo Running Momma - also has a great paleo cream cheese frosting recipe. It is made with coconut cream and cashews.

The frosting recipe for this cake is so wonderful, because it is something that everyone can modify to their taste. If you adore the thick, creaminess and tangy taste of cream cheese frosting, go for that. However, if you prefer something healthier, Greek yogurt is a probiotic-rich choice that may make this cake suitable for even breakfast. Either way you slice this cake, it will be a hit to whoever you serve it to.

Coconut Flour eBook

I wrote an eBook dedicated to my love of all things coconut flour. It focuses on sweet baked treats. Check out Coconut Flour Muffins, Pancakes + Mug Cakes HERE!

More Delicious Carrot Recipes

• Carrot Cake Breakfast Cookies (Who says that carrot cake is just for dessert?)
• Butternut Squash Carrot Soup
• Shredded Carrot Salad
• The BEST Carrot Cake (traditional, nothing healthy about that one)

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