Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe | low calorie, low fat, sugar free, whole grain (2024)

Oct 3, 2019

EgglessHigh ProteinLow FatSugar Free

This Carrot Cake is unbelievably fluffy, moist, and filled with sweet raisins and the perfect blend of spices. And to take it to the next level? A Maple Cinnamon Frosting spread on top and in between thecake layers!

As if things couldn’t get any better, this cake also happens to be GOOD FOR YOU! That’s right. This cake is whole grain, sugar free, and low in fat and calories.

Each bite is an exciting experience that will change the way you think about Carrot Cake!

Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe | low calorie, low fat, sugar free, whole grain (1)

Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe | low calorie, low fat, sugar free, whole grain (2)

When it comes to liking Carrot Cake, I feel like nobody is really “on the fence” if you know what I mean. You either love it or you hate it.

To tell you the truth, I’ve always hated Carrot Cake. Until today.

The carrots always tasted raw to me — they were crunchy and its flavor was far too potent. Growing up, if I was ever served a slice of carrot cake, I would simply scrape off the icing and eat the icing all by itself, leaving the orange cake scraps on the plate. And even though I currently hate carrots (yes, still), I absolutely lovedbaking and eating this Carrot Cake.

The carrot flavor isn’t strong and overpowering, like all of the Carrot Cakes I’ve eaten before. Although, it’ll be hard to focus on tasting carrots with this dang delicious, smooth, and sweet Maple Cinnamon Frosting 😉

This Carrot Cake is unbelievably fluffy, moist, and filled with sweet raisins and the perfect blend of spices.

The Maple Cinnamon Frosting spread on top and in between the cake layers make your individual slice evenmore exciting!

I find the amount of cinnamon and nutmeg to be perfect in pumpkin pie spice, which is why I used that in the recipe. But feel free to use the individual spices to your taste. If you hate nutmeg or simply don’t want ginger or cloves, just use more cinnamon! Can’t go wrong with cinnamon 🙂

This healthy Carrot Cake is not bland in any way, and it’s not too spicy either. It’s just as sweet, just as rich, and just as decadent as any bakery-bought Carrot Cake.

This frosting isn’t your typical pastel-white cream cheese frosting. The Maple Cinnamon Frosting adds both flavor and presentation points too! And it has a little secret ingredient… can you guess what it is? 😉

Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe | low calorie, low fat, sugar free, whole grain (3)

It’stofu!

Don’t worry, you don’t taste it at all! My mother hates tofu and when I told her the frosting’s secret ingredient she was shocked. Trust me too, though, I hate tofu as well but I LOVED this frosting.

I’m super duper excited to share this recipe — this Carrot Cake is so tender and moist, it really doesn’t taste healthy and whole grain at all. And the frosting is unique, flavorful, and brings everything together in perfect flavor harmony.

And… I’m growing somewhat fond of the cake’s bright orange color… could this be it??

Are vegetables really making me this happy??

*GASP*

😉

Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe | low calorie, low fat, sugar free, whole grain (4)

Healthy Carrot Cake with Maple Cinnamon Frosting

Servings: 2 8" cake layers

Prep Time: 30 minutes mins

Cook Time: 30 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

This Carrot Cake is unbelievably fluffy, moist, and filled with sweet raisins and the perfect blend of spices. And to take it to the next level? A Maple Cinnamon Frosting spread on top and in between thecake layers!

Ingredients

Cake:

  • 240g (2 cups) Whole Wheat Pastry Flour
  • 96g (½ cup) Granulated Erythritol
  • 48g (½ cup) Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
  • tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • tsp Double-Acting Baking Powder
  • ½ tsp Baking Soda
  • ¼ tsp Salt
  • 170g (⅖ package) Extra Firm Tofu (drained and rinsed)
  • 123g (½ cup) Unsweetened Applesauce
  • 112g (½ cup) Plain, Nonfat Greek Yogurt
  • ½ cup 100% Orange Juice
  • 63g (3 tbs) Molasses
  • 28g (2 tbs) Avocado Oil
  • 2 tsp Liquid Stevia Extract
  • 2 tsp Vanilla Extract
  • ½ tsp Lemon Zest
  • 1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar
  • cups Grated Carrots
  • ½ cup Raisins

Frosting:

Instructions

For the Cake:

  • Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spray two 8” cake pans with cooking spray.

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat flour, erythritol, protein powder, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

  • In a blender, add the tofu, applesauce, yogurt, orange juice, molasses, oil, stevia extract, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Puree until smooth. Pour over the dry ingredients and fold together until MOSTLY mixed through.

  • Add in the vinegar, carrots, and raisins. Fold together until mixed through, being careful not to overmix.

  • Pour the batter into the prepared cake pans and bake for ~33 minutes, or until the surface springs back when tapped. Flip cakes onto a wire cooling rack and let cool completely.

For the Frosting:

  • In a blender, add the tofu, applesauce, erythritol, maple flavor, and butter flavor. Puree until smooth.

  • Add the protein powder and cinnamon. Puree until completely smooth.

  • Add the coconut oil and puree one last time. Place the mixture in the fridge until firm enough to frost.

  • Frost the cake. Slice, serve, and enjoy! Store the cake in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Nutrition Facts

Healthy Carrot Cake with Maple Cinnamon Frosting

Amount Per Serving (1 serving = 1/10th of cake (does not include frosting)

Calories 215Calories from Fat 36

% Daily Value*

Fat 4g6%

Saturated Fat 0.5g3%

Cholesterol 15mg5%

Sodium 200mg9%

Carbohydrates 34g11%

Fiber 4g17%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 2700IU54%

Vitamin C 11.6mg14%

Calcium 150mg15%

Iron 2.4mg13%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Cake & Cupcakes

Keyword: Eggless, Low Fat, Refined Sugar Free

If you’d prefer Cream Cheese Frosting, I have a great recipe here!

For a tiny sliver of bakery-bought Carrot Cake (that’s a 1/16th slice of a 2-layer 8″ cake) has a whopping 750 calories, 41g fat, 91g carbs, and 74g sugar. That’s over 6 tablespoons of sugar in a single slice!

I think we can all agree that my recipe is better 😉

Enjoy!

.

With love and good eats,

.

–Jess

.

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Healthy Carrot Cake Recipe | low calorie, low fat, sugar free, whole grain (2024)

FAQs

How many calories in a piece of carrot cake without icing? ›

There are 241 calories in 1 piece of Carrot Cake without Icing. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.

Why is carrot cake so calorie dense? ›

Carrot cake usually contains more saturated fat than fruit cake thanks to the frosting, which is typically made from cream cheese. The higher fat content also means it's higher in calories. Carrot cake is lower in fibre, so may not be as filling.

Which type of cake is the lowest in fat and calories? ›

Angel food cake.

It's low in calories, with no fat. Fresh fruit (or fruit puree) and a small dollop of light Cool Whip makes it more interesting. You can also glaze the cake with a fruit juice/powdered sugar mixture. 3.

Is carrot cake good for you? ›

Contrary to popular belief, carrot cake can be more than just a delicious treat. With its remarkable health benefits, including antioxidants, vision support, immune system boosting properties, dietary fiber, and heart health promotion, carrot cake can be enjoyed as a guilt-free indulgence.

Does carrot cake have a lot of fat? ›

Carrots give carrot cake a health-halo effect--people think it's health food, but it's usually very high in fat and calories.

Does carrot cake have sugar in it? ›

A combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar (either light or dark) makes for a moist, flavorful cake. Spices. Both cinnamon and nutmeg create the perfect spice profile that pairs so well with the brown sugar, carrots, and nuts. Oil AND butter.

How many carbs in a carrot cake without icing? ›

Cake, Carrot, Without Icing (1 bundt or tube cake (approx 10 in. dia)) contains 554.9g total carbs, 539.1g net carbs, 262.4g fat, 47.7g protein, and 4690 calories.

What is the unhealthiest cake? ›

Unhealthiest: Carrot Cake

Carrot cake does contain healthy ingredients, such as carrots and nuts, but it is also loaded with fat and sugar. Depending on the size of the cake, your piece could be anywhere between 300-600 calories.

Why not use butter in carrot cake? ›

Carrot cake is oil-based, rather than butter-based. This keeps it moist and helps it last for days. Unfortunately, it also means you lose the leavening power that creaming butter and sugar would bring. (Creaming, or beating together the two ingredients on high speed, aerates the butter.)

Which has more calories cheesecake or carrot cake? ›

A slice of each has approximately 1,400 calories. That makes a slice of the Original Cheesecake, at “only” 710 calories, look like a bargain.

What kind of cake has the least calories? ›

Angel Food Cake is made with egg whites and no butter, which gives it a fluffy, sponge-like consistency. One slice of this cake is only about 70 calories.

Is cheesecake the healthiest cake? ›

Cheesecake is lower in calories and fat than regular cake, making it a better choice if you are trying to watch your weight. One reason why cheesecake is healthier than cake has to do with the calories. A slice of cheesecake typically contains fewer calories than a slice of cake.

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