Paleo Carrot Cake with “Cream Cheese” Frosting

This Paleo Carrot Cake with “Cream Cheese” Frosting is just like the traditional version – maybe even better!

Light and fluffy cake layers are full of carrots and spices, then covered in a creamy frosting.

And this healthy carrot cake recipe is gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free.

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Paleo Carrot Cake

Carrot cake is a classic American dessert for a reason – the cakes are moist, packed with shredded carrots and spiced with cinnamon, ginger and more. Then they’re sandwiched between layers of a thick, creamy cream cheese frosting. What’s not to like?

Well, if you’re Paleo, you probably don’t like that it uses flour, white sugar, and dairy.

So I’ve come up with a version of the traditional carrot cake but made it Paleo-style!

Out goes the regular flour – instead, we’re using almond flour, arrowroot flour/starch and coconut flour. Normally I try to use only one type of grain-free flour for my baked goods, but these three flours combined really provide the best texture: light, fluffy and moist.

And the cake doesn’t use any butter or oil – the almond flour provides so much natural oil/fat that the cake comes out perfectly moist.

Instead of white sugar, this recipe uses coconut sugar – an unrefined sweetener retains nutrients from the coconut palm, which is what it’s made from.

The biggest challenge is actually the cream cheese frosting. By using cashews, coconut cream, lemon juice and maple syrup, you get a thick, creamy frosting that’s sweet and tangy.

If a tiered, layered cake looks intimidating to make, don’t worry! I provide step-by-step photos and clear, detailed instructions. You’ll be baking this up with confidence in no time.

 

What you need:

Ingredients for the cake:

• approx. 1/2 pound of carrots (about 4-5 medium/large)
• 3 cups superfine blanched almond flour
• 1/2 cup arrowroot flour/starch
• 1/4 cup coconut flour
• 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 4 large eggs, room temperature
• 1.5 cups coconut sugar
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• cooking spray for greasing the pans, such as coconut oil spray or avocado oil spray
• optional garnish: finely chopped nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts (if pressing onto the sides of the cake, you’ll want about 1.5 cups chopped nuts); shredded unsweetened coconut, toasted

Ingredients for the “cream cheese” frosting:

• 1.5 cups cashews (unroasted, unsalted) – either soaked in water for at least 4 hours or added to boiling water and boiled for 15 minutes; then drained, rinsed and patted dry
• 2/3 cup coconut cream (from a can of full-fat unsweetened coconut milk that’s chilled in the fridge for at least 8 hours)
• 7 tablespoons pure maple syrup or honey
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil, solid
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

Equipment for the cake:

• 2 8″ round cake pans (I don’t use nonstick pans; if you do, your cakes might come out darker than mine)
• parchment paper
• a large mixing bowl
• a medium mixing bowl
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• a cutting board
• a chef’s knife or paring knife
• a box grater (or you can use the shredded attachment with your food processor)
• cheesecloth or thin flour sack towel
• a spatula (the kind for stirring, not flipping)
• a whisk
• an offset spatula (large or small)
• a cooling rack
• a cake stand or platter
• cake servers

Equipment for the frosting:

• a food processor
• a medium mixing bowl
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• a can opener
• a container for the frosting to chill in the fridge

How to make Paleo Carrot Cake (with step-by-step photos)

Make the cakes:

Heat the oven to 350°.

Line the cake pans with parchment paper. Spray the inner sides of the pan with the cooking spray.

Peel and trim the carrots.

Using the large holes on a box grater, grate the carrots. Measure out 1.5 cups.

Optional but recommended step: gather up the grated carrot in cheesecloth or a thin flour sack towel, twist the cloth/towel to secure it and squeeze all the moisture out over a sink. This will help prevent excess moisture in the cake.

Set the carrots aside.

In a large bowl, whisk the almond flour, arrowroot, coconut flour, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, salt, cardamom and nutmeg.

In a medium bowl, whisk the room temperature eggs, coconut sugar, lemon juice and vanilla.

Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. The batter will be thick.

Stir the grated carrots into the batter until evenly distributed.

Split the batter evenly in half between the two cake pans. Use your spatula to spread the batter out to an even layer.

Bake the cakes for 28-32 minutes (I find 30 minutes is perfect).

Let cool on a cooling rack for 30 minutes. Run a thin knife or offset spatula between the cake and pan to loosen the sides.

Then spread your hand out on top of the cake and flip your hand and cake pan so the cake gently releases onto your hand. Peel off the parchment paper if necessary. Flip right-side up and place on the rack.

Repeat with the second cake.

Let the cakes cool completely.

 

Make the frosting:

Please note: the cashews have to either soaked in water for at least 4 hours or added to boiling water and boiled for 15 minutes; then drained, rinsed and patted dry.

This will make them not only softer and easier to blend, but also easier to digest.

Add the soaked and dried cashews to a food processor. Process until it forms a fairly smooth paste (it might start rolling into a large clump). Occasionally scrape down the sides of the food processor bowl as it blends.

Add the coconut cream, maple syrup, lemon juice, coconut oil, vanilla and salt. Blend until smooth, about 3-5 minutes.

Occasionally stop the processor and scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl, and where the sides and bottom meet. This will make sure the frosting is as smooth as possible.

Scrape the frosting (it will be somewhat runny) into a container and chill for at least 30 minutes to set. If chilling longer, bring to room temperature (about 30 minutes) before using.

Assemble the cake:

Carefully place one cake in the middle of a cake stand or platter.

Dollop about 1/3 of the frosting (approx. 1/3 cup + 1/4 cup) onto the cake and use an offset spatula or spoon to spread in an even layer. You want to get pretty close to the edges of the cake without getting all the way to the edge.

Gently add the second cake on top, making sure it’s centered. Add another 1/3 of the frosting (another 1/3 cup + 1/4 cup) and spread to an even layer in the same way.

Then use the remaining frosting on the sides of the cake, spreading it back and forth as you make your way around the cake. This layer will be somewhat thin but not so thin that you see the cake beneath it.

If adding chopped nuts and/or toasted shredded coconut to the side, scoop some into the palm of your hand and gently press them into the sides of the cake, going from bottom to top.

But you can also sprinkle the nuts or coconut on top of the cake.

Then slice and serve!

FAQs

Can I make substitutions?

You can try using sunflower seed flour in place of the almond flour. I haven’t tried this myself so I can’t guarantee the results but I’ve heard that this works for people.

You can use tapioca flour/starch in place of the arrowroot.

Please do NOT substitute anything for the coconut flour – it is a very unique ingredient that behaves differently than any other flour. There is no substitute for it.

You can use apple cider vinegar in place of the lemon juice – no matter which one you use, you can’t taste it. But you need it as an acid to react with the baking soda to help the cakes rise.

The spices in the cake aren’t too strong, especially once it’s been frosted, but you can reduce the amounts without it changing the texture.

For the frosting, the only substitution that might work is using macadamia nuts instead of cashews. They would still need to be soaked, drained, rinsed and dried. I haven’t tried this myself so if you try it, please let me know how it goes.

 

Can I make this advance?

The cake can be made up to 3 days in advance. Wrap both layers separately in plastic wrap and place in an airtight container. If serving the next day, you can leave it out at room temperature. If making 2-3 days in advance, store in the fridge.

The frosting can be made up to 5 days in advance and kept in the fridge. Bring to room temperature before using.

 

Can I freeze Paleo Carrot Cake?

You can freeze the cake and frosting separately.

Wrap the cake layers separately in plastic wrap, then freeze in an airtight container for up to one month.

Place the frosting in an airtight baggie or container and freeze for up to one month.

Thaw the cake and frosting in the fridge overnight.

Bring the frosting to room temperature before using.

 

Other recipes you might like:

1. Paleo Blueberry Cake
2. Olive Oil Polenta Cake (gluten-free; not Paleo)
3. Paleo Crumb Bars
4. Maple Walnut Paleo Bundt Cake
5. Paleo Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

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