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    Home » Desserts » Healthier Carrot Cake

    Healthier Carrot Cake

    Published: Feb 22, 2021 · Modified: Feb 22, 2021 by Amira · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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    A delicious carrot cake made with whole wheat and with an amazing healthy frosting. It is the best healthy carrot cake to celebrate birthdays or spring time.

    Carrot cake on a cake plate with a piece pulled out of it.
    You will not feel the guilt when you take a second serving of this healthy carrot 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!

    Table of contents

    • Why This Recipe Works
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Recipe Instructions
    • Recipe Expert Tips
    • Recipe FAQs
    • 📸 Recipe At A Glance
    • You may need
    • More Recipes From the Blog
    • Time to show you off

    Why This Recipe Works

    A lighter version of the traditional carrot cake, perfect sweetness, moist with a little molasses flavor. The healthier aspect of this carrot cake makes it a great recipe without the guilt of eating something so sugary or fatty!

    This is a lovely and relatively uncomplicated recipe for carrot cake. I've tweaked the original carrot cake recipe to be healthier and it turned out great. I've also made a yogurt cream cheese frosting that paired very well with the cake.

    Recipe Ingredients

    Healthy carrot cake ingredients on a marble table top.

    Recipe Instructions

    Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.

    A collage of three images showing how to prepare carrot cake batter.
    1. Beat eggs and vanilla then add both brown and white sugar and continue beating. Add oil then applesauce and mix well.
    2. In a bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon.
    3. Gradually add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix.
    A collage of two images showing how to make healthy carrot cake recipe.
    1. Fold in gated carrots and walnuts if using.
    2. Grease and dust two 8 inch round cake pans or 9x13 inch pan. Divide cake batter into the pans and bake until done.
    A collage of two images showing how to make healthy frosting for carrot cake.
    • In a 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.

    Recipe Expert 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 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.

    Recipe FAQs

    Does carrot cake have carrot in?

    Yes, carrot cake is a cake that actually has carrot in the batter. Sometimes people add raisins, pineapples and nuts along with carrots.

    Can I substitute applesauce for oil in carrot cake?

    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

    Can you use extra virgin olive oil in carrot cake?

    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.

    Carrot cake on a serving plate with a piece taken from it and placed on a white dessert plate on the back.

    📸 Recipe At A Glance

    Healthy carrot cake

    You may need

    The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Thank you so much for being a part of Amira’sPantry!
    If you are going to make a birthday cake these 8" baking pans. Wilton are known for their reliable baking pans and these are one of my favorite for making birthday cakes.
    A photo for metal pans products

    More Recipes From the Blog

    • Chocolate flan cake
    • Revani (Ravani) cake recipe
    • Caramel tres leches (Trileçe); Turkish style
    • Pistachio Semolina Cake Recipe

    I hope you'll like this recipe and please if you make this recipe, snap a pic and hashtag it #amiraspantry — I love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter!
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    Carrot cake on a cake plate with a piece pulled out of it.

    Healthy carrot cake

    With this healthy carrot cake recipe, you can still celebrate and stay in shape.
    4.6 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Halal
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour
    Servings: 16 servings
    Calories: 328kcal
    Author: Amira

    Ingredients

    For the cake:

    • 4 eggs.
    • 1/2 cup brown sugar.
    • 1/2 cup granulated white sugar.
    • 3/4 cup apple sauce.
    • 1/4 cup oil.
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract.
    • 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour.
    • 2 teaspoon baking soda.
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder.
    • 1/2 teaspoon salt.
    • 1 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
    • 3 cups grated carrots.
    • 1/2 cup walnuts chopped (optional).

    For the cream cheese frosting and filling**

    • 1/2 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.

    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 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

    Calories: 328kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 395mg | Potassium: 252mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 26g | Vitamin A: 4456IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @AmirasPantry or tag #AmirasPantry!

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    First published March 29, 2017 . Last updated February 23, 2021 with important tips, clear step by step instructions and readability.

    Time to show you off

    • A photo for a Carrot cake made by a fan
    • A photo for a carrot cake made by a fan
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    About Amira

    I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! My hope is to introduce you to new flavors, creative ways and fresh takes on favorites. To help you create food with style that will bring everyone around your kitchen table. From weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Elaine

      February 23, 2021 at 10:43 am

      For how long do you bake the cake(s)?

      Reply
      • Amira

        February 26, 2021 at 8:10 am

        Elaine about 35 to 40 minutes.

        Reply
    2. Leslie h

      January 16, 2020 at 10:26 am

      What is whole wheat pastry flour compared to regular whole wheat flour?

      Reply
    3. Leslie h

      January 16, 2020 at 10:26 am

      What is whole wheat pastry flour? I have a basic whole wheat flour, but not sure if that’s the same.

      Reply
      • Amira

        January 20, 2020 at 8:57 am

        Leslie, whole wheat pastry is finely ground and has less gluten. As far as I know, it produces a softer baked cakes.

        Reply
    4. Lindsey M

      March 18, 2019 at 10:05 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Amira

        March 19, 2019 at 9:29 am

        Wahoo! I’m chuffed you love it Lindsey. Thank you for the feedback

        Reply
    5. Connie

      March 29, 2018 at 10:59 am

      5 stars
      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.

      Reply
      • Amira

        March 29, 2018 at 3:56 pm

        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 :).

        Reply
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    I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! This blog combines weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends. Read More…

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