I think it’s important to do things that are good for our spirits, even if it’s simply to make ourselves feel good. My beau was away on the weekend and I was at home staying warm and doing homework, so I decided to make myself one of my all time favourite cakes: Carrot cake. It’s sweet smell filled up my apartment and I felt good baking and then indulging. However, I am careful not to over-sweeten my cakes and I use alternative flours a lot of the time so that it’s not as heavy and it stays relatively healthy.
For me, carrot cake should not be refined. I go with the idea that it’s more of a loaf, something I can eat for breakfast and not feel ill.
Here is how I do it:
1 cup almond meal
1 cup self-raising plain flour
1/2 cup quinoa
4 teaspoon mixed spice (I use cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamon, pepper, vanilla)
1 cup brown sugar (or any unrefined sugar- makes the cake so much richer and gives a taste of caramel)
2 1/2 cups of grated carrots
1 cup chopped walnuts (half of these to put on the icing)
2/3 cup of either coconut oil or ghee
3 eggs, lightly beaten
150g of natural yoghurt
For the icing:
250 g cream cheese
1 rind of lemon or lime
honey
What next?
Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced. Grease a 6cm-deep, 19cm cake pan. Line base and sides with baking paper.
Sift flour, almond meal, quinoa and spice into a bowl. Add sugar, carrot, chopped walnuts, coconut oil/ghee, natural yoghurt and eggs. Stir to combine. Spread into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean (cover loosely with foil if over-browning). Stand in pan for 10 minutes. Turn out onto a wire rack to cool.
To make the icing mix the cream cheese, grated rind and honey to taste. Spread over cake. Decorate with walnuts. ENJOY
Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake
Carrot Cake and morning latté
Carrot Cake
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Mmmm sounds really good… inspired to make one now
Thanks Leo! It’s so delicious- nothing better than a great carrot cake
Seriously so good. AH. I want another slice.
Thanks for sharing the recipe! Now if only I can find an apartment with an oven…..
hehe I hope you find everything you dream of! xx
Omg! This cake is dairy free (minus the icing). I gotta make it at home!
There is just 150g of yoghurt in the cake mix but you could replace this with vegetable oil or coconut oil
let me know if you make it <3
I love carrot cake too! I just made the one from Ina Garten’s newest cookbook. To die for!!! The icing has crystallized ginger mixed in and sprinkled on top! Take a look when you have a chance:
http://www.barefootcontessa.com/cookbooks_details.aspx?CookbookID=33
With the morning latte sounds heavenly!
Ohhh thanks for the heads up I’m going to look up that recipe
DELICIOUS. I loved it and so does my housemate! And I didn’t have enough carrots so added a grated apple. Not too bad!
Yum! So you used this recipe? Thanks so much for your feedback lovely Jess!
So delicious…and I like that it’s not quite as ‘heavy’ as other recipes… Have a great Sunday… and a little more carrot cake…
xv
Thanks for your feedback, it’s always nice to read what my readers think. The cake wasn’t at all heavy and so great with a hot coffee or tea. This weekend I made ricotta cheesecake- recipe to come! Happy Sunday to you xxx
Just discovered your blog through Carin’s! Love this recipe and can’t wait to try it
Best
Milsters
(http://www.littlepiecesoflight.com/)
Ohh I’m so glad you like the recipe! It was so delicious. Let me know how you go with it. I’m posting some more goodies this weekend so stay tuned xoxo happy Sunday to you!
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