Healthy Gluten-Free Sugar-Free Carrot Cake
This Healthy Gluten-Free Sugar-Free Carrot Cake is baked with coconut flour, spices, carrots, pecans, and coconut flakes and topped with a cream cheese and Greek yogurt frosting sweetened without added sugars. The cake batter is thick due to coconut flour, yielding a moist, dense texture with warm cinnamon and nutmeg notes. The frosting offers a creamy balance, making it suitable for those avoiding gluten and sugar.
Ingredients
For the cake:
- 1 1/4 cups + 2 tablespoons coconut flour sifted
- 4 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 9 egg large
- 18 tablespoons erythritol I used Swerve, sweetener
- 10 tablespoons Greek yogurt plain, non-fat
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 cups carrot about 7 large carrots, grated and lightly packed
- 3/4 cup pecans diced, plus additional for garnish
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes unsweetened
For the frosting:
- 12 oz cream cheese at room temperature, light
- 3/4 cup Greek yogurt plain, non-fat
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups erythritol sweetener I used Swerve, powdered
Instructions
For the cake:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and line two 8-inch cake pans with parchment paper, spraying the exposed sides with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, stir together the coconut flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg.
- In a separate large bowl, use an electric hand mixer to beat the eggs, sweetener, Greek yogurt, and vanilla until well combined. Stir in the coconut flour mixture and stir until combined.
- Gently fold in the carrots, pecans, and coconut flakes until well combined. Let the batter stand for 10 minutes so the coconut flour can begin to absorb the moisture. Your batter will be thick, this is normal.
- Divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans, spreading out smoothly. Bake until the sides are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool COMPLETELY in the pan before removing from the pan and frosting.
To make the frosting:
- In a large bowl, use an electric hand mixer to beat together the cream cheese and yogurt on high speed until fluffy. Add in the vanilla and beat until combined.
- Set the mixer on low speed and gradually add in the powdered sweetener, until you've added all of it and it's well combined. Return to high speed and beat for 2 to 3 minutes or until the frosting is fluffy.
To frost:
- Place one layer bottom-side up on a cake stand. Spread 3/4 cup of the frosting all over it evenly. Then, place the other cake bottom-side up gently on top.
- Spread a thin layer of frosting all over the cake to make the crumb coat. It doesn't have to be pretty, it's just to seal in the crumbs. Chill for at least an hour, up to overnight. Put the remaining frosting in the fridge too, so it starts to firm up.
- Once chilled, frost the entire cake. I find an offset spatula really helps! Garnish with extra pecans, if desired.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 16 People
Amount Per Serving
Calories 169
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 169kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 13.1g | 4% |
| Protein | 8.9g | 18% |
| Fat | 12g | 18% |
| Saturated Fat | 5.1g | 26% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.8g | 11% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 4.3g | 22% |
| Cholesterol | 116mg | 39% |
| Sodium | 341mg | 14% |
| Potassium | 248mg | 5% |
| Fiber | 7g | 28% |
| Sugar | 4.7g | 9% |
| Vitamin A | 3555IU | 71% |
| Vitamin C | 2.3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 69mg | 7% |
| Iron | 0.7mg | 4% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.