A delicious carrot cake made with whole wheat and with amazing healthy frosting. It is the best healthy carrot cake to celebrate birthdays or springtime.
Next time, try this easy orange loaf cake.
Carrot cakes are most popular around Easter and spring time in the United States. The best carrot cakes are delicate moist and rich. This healthier take on carrot cake is as delicious, you'll never miss the extra sugar, fat or the white flour!
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❤️ Why You'll Love It
- A lighter version of the traditional carrot cake so everyone can come for seconds without the guilt.
- This is a lovely and relatively uncomplicated recipe for carrot cake.
- The best way to make a healthy carrot cake to satisfy carrot cake lovers.
- Can be made in a 13x9 casserole or birthday layer cake.
Perfect sweetness, moist with a little molasses flavor. This healthy carrot cake has the most amazing yogurt frosting with cream cheese and honey. I promise you, you will never miss the extra sugars.
📝 Ingredients
Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.
🥄 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a large bowl, beat eggs and vanilla then add both brown and white sugar and continue beating. Add oil then applesauce and mix well.
- In a separate bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix.
- Fold in grated carrots and walnuts if using.
- Grease and dust two 8 inch round cake pans or 9x13 inch pan. Divide cake batter into the pans and bake until done when a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool completely on a cooling rack.
- In a small bowl, combine frosting ingredients well.
- Place the first baked round cake on a circular plate, top with some of the frosting then top that with the other baked cake. Decorate according to your liking or just dump the frosting on top. Double the frosting if you feel the need to, the best part is it is not that super sweet and it is actually healthier.
💡Tips
- The frosting is a little bit soft, If you need a more stiff frosting to make flowers and more decorative shapes, you'll need to add some powdered sugar. I've used a lot of icing as I've made a two tier birthday cake.
- You can use maple syrup instead of honey as well in the frosting.
- You can bake in a 13x9 pan and only use half of the icing or just dust the top with some powdered sugar instead of frosting, or maybe even healthier and skip the frosting all together.
- Cake and frosting are not too sweet like the ones we usually get at the stores. For us it was just right and we did not even miss the extra sugar. I had a little bit of leftover frosting which my kids put to a good use . They scooped more on their cake pieces, but guess what? I was not freaking out and yelling at them to stop.
🥣 Equipment
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- 8-inch round cake pans.
- Food processor or box grater, to shred carrots.
💬 FAQs
Yes, carrot cake is a cake that actually has carrot in the batter. Sometimes people add raisins, pineapples and nuts along with carrots.
Actually in this recipe I did. While developing this recipe to be lighter some of the fats were substituted by apple sauce but still you'll find
You can definitely do that if this is your thing. You see, I've made cakes before with olive oil but it just did not suite my taste , I felt EVOO was so overwhelming and really overpowered all other flavors.
🍽️ Serve With
- I love to serve this sweet treat with a hearty meal like this Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole. It's comforting, filling and full of flavor.
- This Butternut Squash Ravioli Sauce goes pretty well for a delicious side to any meal and it complements the carrot cake color so well.
🧺 Storage
Refrigerate- Store leftover healthy carrot cake in a cake box or cut into pieces and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freeze - Wrap portions of the cake with plastic wrap and place in a freezer safe bag. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw in the fridge overnight.
📣 Related Recipes
- This date cake is very easy, needs only a blender, a bowl and a whisk.
- The best marble loaf recipe coming to you right from my mama's kitchen.
- Here is a moist pecan pumpkin cake with a delicious buttery sauce.
- Best fluffy marshmallow frosting recipe, easy to make with a handful of ingredients. This is the perfect frosting for cakes and cupcakes.
- These Carrot Cake Mix Cookies are a great treat for any time of day. They have plenty of flavor without being overly sweet, and they're soft and moist.
🥕Carrot Recipes
- This Beet and Carrot Salad is one of my favorites. It's earthy and nutritious, and the color is incredibly appealing.
- Carrot Cake Mix Cookies are a great treat for any time of day. They have plenty of flavor without being overly sweet, and they're soft and moist.
- Aromatic, sweet Carrot Jam will change the way you enjoy breakfast in the morning. Spread it over pancakes, bagels, toast, and waffles. Or do as I do and eat it straight out of the jar, by the spoonful.
- Carrot Lentil Soup is a nourishing, soul-warming soup that is ready in less than 30 minutes. With just a few pantry staples, this will be your go-to option for a quick, wholesome meal.
If you love this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating! Thank you.
Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 4 eggs.
- ½ cup brown sugar.
- ½ cup granulated white sugar.
- ¾ cup apple sauce.
- ¼ cup oil
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 cups grated carrots
- ½ cup walnuts chopped (optional).
For the cream cheese frosting and filling**
- ½ cup raw honey.
- 2 8oz cream cheese, room temperature.
- 2 (5oz) vanilla Greek yogurt cups.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Grease and dust two 8 inch round cake pans or 9x13 inch pan.
- In a deep bowl, beat eggs and vanilla then add both brown and white sugar and continue beating.
- Add oil then apple sauce and mix well.
- In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
- Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix.
- Finally fold in the carrots and pecan if using.
- Bake in the prepared pan(s) until done.*
- Meanwhile, prepare the frosting. In a bowl beat cream cheese, yogurt and honey until well combined. Refrigerate until the cake is done and cooled.
- If you are making a two tier cake, add half the filling over one cake and cover with the other one.
- Decorate with the rest of the frosting.
- Refrigerate to set for a couple of hours before serving.
Video
Notes
- If you will not make a two tier cake and then use only half of the icing recipe.
- The frosting is a little bit soft, If you need a more stiff frosting to make flowers and more decorative shapes, you'll need to add some powdered sugar. I've used a lot of icing as I've made a two tier birthday cake.
- You can use chopped pecans instead of walnuts as well.
- You can bake in a 13x9 pan and only use half of the icing or just dust the top with some powdered sugar instead of frosting, or maybe even healthier and skip the frosting all together.
- Cake and frosting are not too sweet like the ones we usually get at the stores. For us it was just right and we did not even miss the extra sugar. I had a little bit of leftover frosting which my kids put to a good use . They scooped more on their cake pieces, but guess what? I was not freaking out and yelling at them to stop.
- Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.
Nutrition
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First published March 29, 2017 . Last updated February 14, 2024 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.
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John / Kitchen Riffs
You're reminding me that it's been a couple of years at least since I've had carrot cake. Gotta make some, and soon -- using your terrific recipe! Thanks.
Ghislaine Connell
Thank you, Amira, for giving us a recipe with less sugar. I am a diabetic that loves sugar but I find most recipes are so overloaded with sugar, they are not even enjoyable to eat. When I bake, even to give or sell, I always cut back on the amount of sugar in most recipes. I have not tried this recipe yet but will now. Thank you once again.
Amira
Gald you find it useful Ghislaine.
Elaine
For how long do you bake the cake(s)?
Amira
Elaine about 35 to 40 minutes.
Leslie h
What is whole wheat pastry flour compared to regular whole wheat flour?
Leslie h
What is whole wheat pastry flour? I have a basic whole wheat flour, but not sure if that’s the same.
Amira
Leslie, whole wheat pastry is finely ground and has less gluten. As far as I know, it produces a softer baked cakes.
Lindsey M
Can't wait to try this again, made it in many occasions already and it never failed me. Thank you for such a great recipe.
Amira
Wahoo! I’m chuffed you love it Lindsey. Thank you for the feedback
Connie
A delicious cake with sensible ingredients and a frosting that is actually good for you!
We all loved it. It also came out well gluten-free (using Bob's one to one baking flour flour) Thank you for posting.
Amira
Connie, thank you so much for trying this recipe and I am glade you all liked it. I've no experience with gluten free flour but I am happy it turned out good though :).
mae
This recipe looks more like the old classics from the past, not like the supermarket versions which are pretty much like all mass market cakes -- very bland and ultrasweet!
best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com
thatskinnychickcanbake
Wow, your carrot cake is stunning! One of my favorite desserts, so I appreciate the lightened up version!!!
Evelyne CulturEatz
But it has carrots, not healthy by default lol? I do like carrot cake but a light version is welcomed. Really nice icing recipe and the cake looks really beaitifull Amira. More coincidences between us, starting this Sat we have 5 cake occasions in my family till early June!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
This cake looks like it has a great texture to it! And it doesn't look too healthy (which is a compliment), it looks like a regular full fat, full sugar cake!
kitchenriffs
Carrot cakes are good, aren't they? Love their flavor! Yours looks especially nice -- moist and flavorful, and good for you (as well as being good IN you!). Super recipe -- thanks.