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My healthy carrot cake recipe yields a fluffy, moist cake that’s full of warming spiced flavor. It’s made with whole wheat flour and NO eggs!
Love all things carrot cake? Check out my carrot cake bars, carrot cake cookies, or carrot cake muffins next.
If you’re not baking with vegetables, you’re seriously missing out. It’s one of my favorite secret ingredients (hello, zucchini chocolate cake!) because it adds flavor, texture, and tons of fiber.
Made with a shortlist of ingredients, my carrot cake is tender and moist, with the perfect crumb and added sweetness from carrots and plump raisins.
Table of Contents
Why I love this recipe
- Perfect with or without frosting. Let’s be honest: the best part of any cake is the frosting, but this is different. It’s so delicious on its own.
- It’s actually healthy. Just because ‘carrot cake’ has carrots doesn’t mean it’s healthy (I’m sorry to break the news), but my recipe is made with wholesome ingredients.
- The best texture. The carrots are baked until tender, and the nuts add a crunch factor.
Ingredients needed
- All-purpose flour. I used white whole wheat flour since it’s higher in fiber than traditional white flour, but you could use regular flour.
- Baking powder and baking soda. Gives the cake some rise and fluffiness.
- Cinnamon. A must for spiced carrot cake!
- Sugar. I used white sugar, but brown sugar or a sugar-free sweetener would work. You could even use maple syrup or coconut sugar for a refined sugar-free option.
- Milk. I used unsweetened almond milk, but milk will do.
- Coconut oil. My preferred substitute for butter. Use refined coconut oil so there’s no coconut flavor. Alternatively, use butter or a neutral-flavored oil.
- Grated carrots. They should be freshly grated and NOT chopped, so they don’t distract from the texture.
- Almonds and walnuts. For added texture. I used chopped almonds, but walnuts or pecans would be a great addition, too.
- Raisins. Optional, but I think they’re essential for a proper carrot cake!
- Frosting. Another optional ingredient, but what is a carrot cake without frosting?
How to make a healthy carrot cake
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Step 1- Mix. In a large mixing bowl, combine the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, combine the sugar, milk, and oil until smooth. Combine the wet ingredients and dry ingredients, then fold in the carrots and mix-ins.
Step 2- Bake. Pour the cake batter into the two cake pans and bake for 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
Step 3- Frost. Allow the cakes to cool in the pan. Once cooled, layer the cakes, frost, slice, and serve.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Grate the carrots very finely. The finer the carrots, the more cohesively they mix into the batter.
- Don’t overmix the batter. We want the ingredients to be mixed, but just until they are combined. Overmixing can potentially lead to a dense cake.
- Use a different cake pan. This recipe makes two 8-inch cakes, but you could also use it to make two 9-inch cakes, one 9×13-inch rectangular cake, or two 9×5-inch loaf pans.
Variations
- Make a single-layered cake. Halve the ingredients in the recipe.
- Or make carrot cake cupcakes! Pour the batter into a lined cupcake tin and bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Make a gluten-free carrot cake. Use a gluten-free flour blend with xanthan gum added in.
- Swap the mix-ins. Instead of raisins and nuts, try shredded coconut or crushed pineapple (with the juice drained).
Storage instructions
To store: Leftover cake should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
To freeze: Freeze leftover cake slices in a freezer-safe container for up to six months.
Frequently asked questions
This cake could technically be vegan if you used dairy-free milk and vegan frosting.
Not necessarily! People often assume that because there are carrots in carrot cake, it’s a healthier option. However, most cakes use butter, oil, and plenty of sugar! Let’s not forget the cream cheese frosting that comes with it.
More wholesome cakes to try
- Healthy chocolate cake
- Healthy apple cake
- Healthy banana cake
- Blueberry breakfast cake
- Healthy mug cake
Healthy Carrot Cake
Video
Ingredients
- 3 1/4 cups all purpose flour Gluten free, if needed
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1 1/2 cups milk I used unsweetened almond milk
- 1 cup coconut oil melted (can use any neutral tasting oil)
- 3 1/2 cups carrots grated
- 1/2 cup walnuts chopped
- 1/2 cup raisins Optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180C/350F. Grease two 8-inch cake pans and line them with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon, and mix well. In a separate bowl, whisk together the sugar, coconut sugar, milk of choice, and melted coconut oil, until glossy and smooth. Combine your wet and dry ingredients and mix until just incorporated. Fold through your shredded carrots, nuts, and raisins.
- Distribute your cake batter evenly amongst the two cake pans. Bake for around 40 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.
- Allow the cakes to cool in the pan completely. Once cooled, you can frost them, if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally updated March 2023, updated and republished September 2024
It really is healthy recipe. I have all imgredients except milk as I never buy it. Tomorrow I will. Thanks!
Carrots, cinnamon, walnuts-very good combination. Just for this fall. While watching a movie at night, in warm house, this warm cake. Amazing.
I love this recipe. I will be making it again this year. Thank you so much.
My carrot cake just cooled, tasted it. Very soft, fluffy and moist. Lessened the granulated sugar from 1 c to 3/4 c, just right, not sweet, delicious and healthy vegan carrot cake. Thank you for sharing this recipe, Arman! It’s a 5!
I have baked your healthy carrot cake (single layer, sweetener/ date syrup, and walnuts only) about three times now, within the past 6 weeks and everyone simply loves it. I am very careful with what I eat since I found out I am pre diabetic, so I am trying to ward off getting fully diabetic, as well as being a vegetarian. This cake is enjoyed by my husband, Mum, sisters, vegan nieces, mother-in-law etc. Well done for such a great receipe 👍👍👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😋😋