Made with pillowy almond flour batter and cinnamon and pecans tucked into every cranny, this Healthy Carrot Cake recipe is a delicious must-try recipe. It’s also minus the calories and saturated fat traditionally found in carrot cake and gets its heavenly moist crumb from truly healthy ingredients.
Healthy Carrot Cake with sugar free Keto Cream Cheese Frosting.
Or try frosting Healthy Carrot Cake with sugar free Cream Cheese Avocado Frosting.
The Secrets to Delicious, Healthy Carrot Cake
Use Avocados Instead of Butter in Healthy Carrot Cake
I rarely use butter in my cakes anymore, because avocados aren’t just a lot healthier. They also make cakes incredibly moist, tender and silky. So, every bite simply melts in your mouth. And don’t worry, the flavor of avocado fully vanishes when it mixes with the other ingredients in this gluten free Healthy Carrot Cake. So, forgo the saturated fat of butter and go green!
You might also like Sugar Free Red Velvet Cake – Keto Delight!
Use a Natural Zero-Calorie Sugar Substitute
Transforming this carrot cake into a super healthy treat involves minimizing its carb and calorie content, which can be influenced by various factors, notably sugar. A simple solution is to swap out refined sugar for one of the many zero-calorie sugar alternatives readily available in today’s supermarkets.
Take monk fruit, for instance; it serves as a perfect one-to-one replacement for sugar, mimicking its taste without any lingering aftertaste. Consequently, no one will suspect that this irresistibly soft and moist carrot cake is both low in carbs and sugar free.
Opting for monk fruit offers an additional advantage: Say goodbye to sugar-induced energy crashes since monk fruit doesn’t cause spikes in your glycemic index. This makes the recipe not only “clean” but also suitable for those with dietary restrictions, such as individuals managing diabetes.
Achieve a Delightful, Fresh Flavor in Your Healthy Carrot Cake by Properly Preparing Your Carrots
To begin, opt for fresh, juicy carrots, ideally organic for a richer nutrient profile and freedom from pesticides. Next, gently brush the carrots under cool, running water using a nylon-bristled brush to ensure any lingering dirt or pesticides are removed. Then, hold the carrot between your thumb and middle finger and peel it with a peeler – or simply place the tip of the carrot on a cutting board and use a paring knife to scrape down the carrot from top to tip. Finally, grate the prepared carrots to incorporate them seamlessly into your Healthy Carrot Cake recipe.
Looking for something savory? Try Keto Chicken Pot Pie in a Cheddar-Chive Crust.
Opt for Naturally Gluten Free Almond Flour when Making Your Carrot Cake
Not only does it impart a deliciously mild, sweet, and nutty flavor to the cake, but it’s also inherently gluten free, low in carbs, and rich in protein. With a glycemic index of under one, almond flour won’t cause spikes in your blood sugar levels. This results in a wholesome, low carb, protein-packed carrot cake that’s perfect for individuals managing diabetes or adhering to a low carb diet.
Prepare Your Cake Pans for a Flawless Release
For the best carrot layer cake, line two nine-inch cake pans with parchment paper, if needed, and grease the sides thoroughly to ensure an easy release. Here’s a helpful tip: Glide a plastic knife or a similar utensil along the edges of the cake pans before releasing. By doing so delicately with a plastic knife, you can prevent any damage to your pans, allowing the cakes to effortlessly slide out. If you do this gently with a plastic knife, you won’t ruin your pans and the cakes will slide right out.
Or try Keto Chocolate Raspberry Cake: Decadence Without the Carbs!
Ingredients in Healthy Carrot Cake
The Cake Batter
- Avocado – soft and puréed
- Carrots – peeled and grated
- Pecans – chopped
- Almond flour – blanched or super-fine almond flour, not coarse almond meal. Naturally gluten free almond flour helps make this a healthy protein carrot cake with over 11 grams of protein per serving.
- Granulated sweetener of choice – Use a natural sugar substitute such as monk fruit allulose blend, so there are no carbs or calories from sugar.
- Baking powder – serves as a leavening agent in carrot cake, helping it rise and achieve a light, fluffy texture.
- Salt – enhancing the flavor of carrot cake.
- Cinnamon – adds warmth, depth, and a hint of spice.
- Ginger powder – adds some spice and complements the cinnamon.
- Eggs – Eggs not only boost protein and volume but also serve as a binding agent, compensating for the absence of gluten in almond flour, a traditional component that binds cake batter.
- Vanilla extract – adds depth and complexity to the flavor profile of carrot cake.
Healthy Carrot Cake Frosting: Choose Between Traditional or Super Green!
Indulge in Sugar Free Keto Cream Cheese Frosting – It’s not only delicious but also low in carbs and calories when sweetened with monk fruit. This recipe yields enough frosting to top both cakes, or double it for ample side coverage.
Or dive into Sugar Free Cream Cheese Avocado Frosting – A uniquely low carb option that’s thick, creamy, and bursting with flavor. With less than 1 gram of saturated fat per serving, it’s a guilt-free choice. Made with puréed avocado and low-fat cream cheese, it provides enough frosting to top both cakes and lightly coat the sides. Elevate your cake to a whole new level of green goodness! Remember, avocado oxidizes, so enjoy your cake within three days or opt for the white keto frosting recipe for longer storage.
Also make EASY Keto Coconut Cake.
How to Make Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe
You’ll breeze through this recipe in no time—it’s incredibly straightforward to make. Here’s a quick summary of the steps, with detailed instructions available in the Recipe Card below.
- Grease pans and line with parchment paper, if necessary.
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F.
- Chop the pecans.
- Grate the carrots.
- Purée the avocado.
- Whisk together the almond flour, granulated sweetener of choice, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and optional ginger powder.
- In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, avocado purée, and vanilla extract.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix well.
- Pour into prepared cake pans and bake 25-30 minutes.
- Cool 15 minutes in pan. Then flip.
- Let the cakes cool fully before assembling, frosting and decorating with pecans.
Or try Keto Orange Indian Spice Cake – a twist on a classic favorite!
Frequently Asked Questions about Heart-Healthy Carrot Cake
It’s easy to make SUPER HEALTHY carrot cake. Firstly, make it with a zero-carb, zero-calorie sugar replacement such as monk fruit. Secondly, make healthy carrot cake with almond flour, a naturally low carb flour. Thirdly, bake with avocado instead of butter. Lastly, make the frosting with low-fat cream cheese and a zero-calorie sweetener. These ingredients then fuse with healthy carrots, spices and nutritious pecans or walnuts to create a very tasty cake.
A close friend who has type 2 diabetes told me that pineapple really spikes her blood sugar. So, if you’re diabetic, I don’t recommend making carrot cake with pineapple.
Use low-fat cream cheese and a 0-carb, 0-calorie sweetener sugar substitute such as monk fruit when you make the frosting. For example, try either of these keto cream cheese frosting recipes: Sugar Free Keto Cream Cheese Frosting or Sugar Free Cream Cheese Avocado Frosting. Both taste great on this dessert – or try them on Sugar Free Red Velvet Cake.
Kitchen Equipment to Make Healthy Carrot Cake
- 2 nine-inch cake pans – to make the layer cake.
- An immersion blender or blender – to purée the avocado.
- An electric mixer or Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer – to mix the wet and dry ingredients.
How to Store Healthy Carrot Cake
To store: Refrigerate covered for up to 4 days. I highly recommend using a special cake storage container that clicks shut. Other options include an airtight plastic container.
To freeze: If you make this healthy gluten free carrot cake recipe with Sugar Free Cream Cheese Avocado Frosting, I don’t recommend freezing it, since the avocado may discolor and get watery when dethawing. If you make it with Sugar Free Keto Cream Cheese Frosting, you can freeze it in a sealed container or bag for up to 3 months.
Interested in More Healthy Recipes Like This?
Try my other delicious cake and dessert recipes!
- Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie
- Vegan Buttercream Chocolate Frosting
- Sugarfree Pecan Pie
- Orange Angel Food Cake
- Milk Jello
- Chocolate Avocado Frosting
I’d love to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment and rate this recipe with STARS in the comment section below if you like the recipe! Let me know and tag me @cathyscakesalon on Instagram too. Thank you for making my recipe!
You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK and PINTEREST for more healthy dessert and snack recipes!
Recipe Card
Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe: Indulge Guilt-Free!
Equipment
- 2 Nine-inch cake pans to make a layer cake – or 1 cake pan for a single cake.
- 1 Immersion blender or food processor – to puree the avocado.
- 1 Electric or stand mixer – to mix the wet and dry ingredients.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 3 cups Almond Flour, finely blanched 290 grams
- ¾ cup Granulated Sweetener of Choice I use 150 grams of monk fruit.
- 3 teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon Ginger Powder
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup Pureed Avocado Usually 1 large avocado.
- 4 Eggs
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla
- 2 cups Carrots, peeled and grated
- 1 ⅓ cups Pecans, chopped, 1 cup is for the cake. Save 1/3 cup to decorate the cake.
For the frosting, choose between two sugar-free options:
- Keto Cream Cheese Frosting: Perfect for frosting the tops of both cakes. Double the recipe for side coverage.
- Cream Cheese Avocado Frosting: It’s enough to frost the tops of both cakes and lightly coat the sides.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F/180 C.
- Chop pecans and set aside 1/3 cup to decorate the cake.
- Grate the carrots.
- Line 2 nine-inch cake pans with parchment paper and grease the sides.
- Purée the avocado.
- Whisk together the almond flour, granulated sweetener of choice, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and ginger powder.
- Add the eggs, avocado purée, and vanilla extract, and mix well with spoon or electric mixer.
- Then stir in the grated carrots and 1 cup of the chopped pecans.
- Pour into prepared cake pans and bake 25-30 minutes at 350F/180 C.
- Cool 15 minutes in pan. Then flip.
- Let the cake cool fully.
- Frost the cake.
- Top with pecans.
Video
Notes
DID YOU MAKE THIS HEALTHY CARROT CAKE?
I’d love to hear your feedback. Please leave a comment/star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. And, of course, please share the recipe. You can also FOLLOW ME on INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK and PINTEREST for more healthy dessert and snack recipes!
Ken says
Just tried the recipe using the Avocado Frosting, and it was one of the best Carrot Cakes I’ve ever had!
The cake was sweet and just the right hint of spice. The Avacado Frosting tasted perfect and had a pretty green color. All Carrot Cakes should have a little green color in them. All my friends were amazed from the first bite at how good it tasted and how healthy the ingredients were. Thanks for coming up with such a unique and tasty recipe!
Elizabeth Silva says
This cake was absolutely delicious and also looks very pretty. It’s hard to believe there is no sugar in the recipe because it’s so tasty. I didn’t even know you could make frosting out of avocados. I can’t wait to have this cake again. Thanks Cathy for this great recipe!
Cathy says
Thanks for your feedback! Glad you enjoyed the cake.
Erika says
I just made your carrot cake. It was really delicious. It’s really the best carrot cake I’ve ever had.
u.Hugo Rupp says
i am sitting here eating my second slice of Cathy’s delicious carrot cake and must report immediately: This tart tastes as it looks: DIVINE! This gorgeous cake is juicy with a tiny crisp to each bite; its texture is dense, complex and very rich though not from sugar and fat – it’s a delight minus the sin! i wish healthy nourishment always tasted this good plus it really fills one up (though it’s hard to resist, the second slice is what eyes and taste buds demand). Truly, no one else i know creates cakes like these – Cathy’s creations should be discovered by Michelin!
Cathy @ Cathy's Cake Salon says
Thanks so much for making my day. I’m glad you loved the carrot cake!