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    Home » Recipes » Cakes & Cupcakes

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    Published: Feb 19, 2018 · Last modified: Apr 16, 2022 by Leslie Kiszka / This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    5 from 2 votes
    Paleo Carrot Cake (DF | GF | Paleo) | Stress Baking
    Paleo Carrot Cake (DF | GF | Paleo) | Stress Baking
    Paleo Carrot Cake (DF | GF | Paleo) | Stress Baking
    Paleo Carrot Cake (DF | GF | Paleo) | Stress Baking
    Paleo Carrot Cake (DF | GF | Paleo) | Stress Baking
    Paleo Carrot Cake (DF | GF | Paleo) | Stress Baking
    Paleo Carrot Cake (DF | GF | Paleo) | Stress Baking

    Perfectly moist (but not heavy) spice cake loaded with flavor and fresh carrots. The cake itself is paleo, and I’ve provided several options for delicious paleo and non-paleo frostings – because carrot cake isn’t complete without a creamy, tangy frosting! Try my carrot cake donuts next.

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    Let’s talk carrot cake.

    Not in the mood for story time? Feel free to jump straight to the recipe at the bottom!

    I’ve never been a fan of carrot cake, nor have I been a fan of cream cheese frosting. And having nuts in my cake has always made me cringe. So in essence, a serving of carrot cake is my nightmare dessert.

    I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “So why ON EARTH are you putting a carrot cake on your blog?” Because I love you. That’s why.

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    But here’s the thing… I don’t hate it so much that I can’t possible be around it. I can deal with it enough to taste test it before handing it over to my husband to have him give me his carrot cake-loving opinion.  His verdict?

    Big fan. Real big fan.

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    You know who else was a fan of this? The cats. They wanted a bite so badly they were purring while circling the plate from which Bill was eating.

    It started out as a casual sniffing of the air, as if to say, “My, what a pleasant aroma! I wonder what is emitting such a lovely scent.”

    Which quickly turned to, “Heeeeeeeeey, girlfriend!” (we’ve determined that this cat is a fabulous gay man trapped inside a feline’s body, FYI)

    And it ends in a culmination of not-so-subtle sniffing right up against the plate and trying to flip the plate on the ground to make it look like an accident.

    Paleo Carrot Cake
    Cat wants carrot cake

    We’re making this a two layer cake

    So anyway, the cake.

    I had originally planned to turn this into a three layer cake, but quite honestly I never make those because I feel like it’s just too much. It’s too tall for your fork, you have to lay the slice of cake down on it’s side to eat it, and it’s just generally a ton of food.

    I don’t want my slices of cake the sizes of small planets, thankyouverymuch. It’s easier to slice, easier to serve, easier to eat, and just… easier. And I’m all about easier options these days.

    Paleo Carrot Cake
    Paleo Carrot Cake

    I might not like carrot cake, but you know what? I have to admit – this one is pretty damn good. Not to toot my own horn here, but I think I may have a found a carrot cake recipe even I’d be willing to eat.

    I’m not going to go crazy and eat an entire slice or anything, but I wouldn’t turn my nose up at sneaking a bite or two.

    Grating the carrots

    Don’t stress out about grating the carrots. If you have a food processor with a shredding disc, then it’s going to be a breeze that’ll take you all of a minute or two.

    If you don’t have one, you can certainly use a box grater – but it’s gonna take you a while. It’ll be worth it though, I swear.

    But whatever you do, DO NOT USE PRE-SHREDDED CARROTS. I’m serious. Those bagged shredded carrots at the store are dry and terrible.

    Spend the little bit of time to clean your carrots, peel them, and grate them. Just be careful with your hands because I love you and I don’t want you to get hurt. If you don’t have a grater, you just want to get one like this (affiliate link) and use the largest holes.

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    Why this carrot cake is so good

    Let’s zoom in on this cake a bit.

    Hopefully you can tell, but this isn’t a super dense cake. It’s moist, but not heavy. The nuts in the batter give it a nice soft crunch in each bite, but if you’re not down with nuts then just leave them out.

    No harm, no foul. You may just end up with a little less height in your final product, but by no means will it be flat.

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    Frosting the cake

    You’ll also miss out on decorating the frosting, which might be my favorite thing about this cake. It’s the simplest decoration I think I’ve ever done. Just a layer of frosting spread across the top and chopped pecans around the outer edge. That’s it.

    No piping tips (aff link), no fondant, nothing crazy or difficult. I don’t even go out of my way to ensure the entire sides are covered, so I almost treat it like a mix between a naked cake and adding a crumb coat.

    You can add as little or as much frosting as you’d like – just note that what you see in these pictures is the amount I list in my recipe below. Two layers of cake, a center layer of frosting, with a light coat around the edges and a decent layer on top.

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    Side note: If you’re in the market for one, I love my Wilton offset icing spatula (aff link) for coating cakes. It’s lightweight, comfortable to hold, and works like a dream. Much like this frosting. Isn’t is dreamy looking?

    That’s the only word I can come up with to describe it. For these pictures, you’re seeing a whipped cream cheese frosting, but I’ve provided options to two paleo frostings that I love as well if you’re truly trying to keep it paleo.

    After you’ve made this recipe, please consider coming back to share your experience with others by leaving a comment below with a star rating!

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    Paleo Carrot Cake

    5 from 2 votes
    Perfectly moist (but not heavy) spice cake loaded with flavor and fresh carrots. The cake itself is paleo, and I’ve provided several options for delicious paleo and non-paleo frostings – because carrot cake isn’t complete without a creamy, tangy frosting!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes
    Cook Time 40 minutes
    Total Time 1 hour
    Servings 8 slices

    Equipment

    • Round cake pans
    • Mixing bowls
    • Whisk
    • Hand mixer
    • KitchenAid Stand Mixer

    Ingredients
      

    Carrot cake

    • 3 eggs, room temperature
    • ⅓ cup coconut oil, melted
    • ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
    • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
    • ⅓ cup coconut sugar or light brown sugar
    • ½ cup unsweetened almond milk, or other milk of choice
    • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
    • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
    • 2 cups carrots, freshly grated
    • 2 cups paleo baking flour blend
    • 1 ¾ cup pecans or walnuts, chopped and toasted, divided (optional, but encouraged)

    Paleo Frosting Options:

    • Cashew buttercream
    • Coconut whipped cream

    Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting (my personal favorite, not paleo)

    • 1 ½ cups heavy cream
    • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
    • 1 cup granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon pure or clear vanilla extract
    • Pinch of salt

    Instructions
     

    Carrot cake

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease two 9″ round pans with coconut oil — or spray with nonstick spray if not paleo — and dust with gluten-free flour. Shake out the excess and set aside.
    • In a large bowl, combine eggs, coconut oil, and sweetener and whisk to combine.
    • Add applesauce, coconut sugar, almond milk, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, ginger, nutmeg and cloves and whisk again to combine.
    • Add carrots and flour and whisk to combine. Fold in 1 cup of the chopped nuts of choice.
    • Divide batter evenly among the two prepared cake pans.
    • Bake for 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out almost totally clean.
    • Let cool in pans for 10 minutes, then move to wire rack to cool completely.

    Frosting

    • In a medium bowl using a stand or hand mixer, whip heavy cream to stiff peaks. Set aside.
    • In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and salt and beat until combined and smooth.
    • Add the whipped cream mixture to the cream cheese mixture and whip for a few seconds to combine.
    • Place one layer of the cake on cake stand or plate, and add ⅓ of the frosting on top, all the way to the edges. Place the other cake layer on top, then cover with the remaining frosting (on top, and around the edges). Garnish with remaining chopped nuts, slice, and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

    • Store covered in fridge for up to 5 days.
    • Nutritional information below is for the cake alone – does not include frosting since it would depend on which one you use.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 781kcal | Carbohydrates: 72g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 17g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 154mg | Sodium: 577mg | Potassium: 338mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 43g | Vitamin A: 6494IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 205mg | Iron: 2mg
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Author Leslie Kiszka
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating!

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alison

      January 18, 2022 at 12:46 pm

      Has anyone made this cake as whole cake in a spring form cake tin?
      I assume it would work OK… just maybe cook a bit longer?
      I have a 24cm tin.. around 9in… which is quite a lot deeper than those layer cake pans linked in the recipe description.

      Tips and feedback welcome!

      Reply
    2. Debs

      February 27, 2018 at 12:27 pm

      Love this cake and that you made it paleo. I definitely love the coconut frosting over a cream cheese frosting. And your fur baby is gorgeous!

      Reply
    3. babylovesberry

      February 26, 2018 at 2:49 am

      It was time in my life when i would just scrape and eat the frosting and not touch the actual cake… Long story short- those times are gone! I am ready for some carrot cake!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:23 am

        I totally get that – I’ve been known to scrape frosting off of cakes more than once!

        Reply
    4. alifeofhappenstance

      February 25, 2018 at 8:26 pm

      I love me some carrot cake and this one looks SO good! I follow SCD which is really similar to a paleo diet…I only have to modify 2 things in this recipe! Wahoo! Thank for sharing!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:23 am

        I hope it works out for you!

        Reply
    5. Julie | Bunsen Burner Bakery

      February 25, 2018 at 5:22 pm

      I love your cats eyeing up the cake! Such a perfect match color-wise, too. My cat generally ignores whatever is going on in the kitchen, but my dog sure can’t resist trying to steal a bite of everything!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:24 am

        That cat LOVES to match his surroundings. He’s pretty fabulous ;)

        Reply
    6. Amanda Mason

      February 24, 2018 at 10:49 pm

      OMG your pictures are priceless!! They tell such a wonderful story! And thank you for loving me enough to post a recipe I truly love!! Great article – seriously I’m all over this recipe!!!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:25 am

        I’m so glad that this recipe is something you love so much – I hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    7. Sharon Glascoe

      February 24, 2018 at 10:40 pm

      This is such a gorgeous cake. Layers and full of nuts make for the perfect treat.

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:25 am

        Thank you!

        Reply
    8. Alyssa | Flaxseeds & Fairytales

      February 24, 2018 at 6:24 pm

      I love baking with coconut oil! This cake looks delicious and so moist. Can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:25 am

        Me too!

        Reply
    9. Rachel

      February 23, 2018 at 11:32 pm

      Carrot cake is one of my favorite flavors of spring. I love that this one is healthier than traditional carrot cake!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:26 am

        It totally screams spring, doesn’t it?

        Reply
    10. prasanna hede

      February 23, 2018 at 1:08 pm

      Beautiful cake and the topping,and your cat is beautiful too!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:26 am

        I’ll tell him! But he totally knows it ;)

        Reply
    11. Amelie

      February 22, 2018 at 7:12 am

      This cake looks absolutely amazing and your pictures are so pretty. Beautiful cat by the way!

      Reply
    12. Nancy Bryant

      February 21, 2018 at 7:39 pm

      I love carrot cakes and this version is perfect with the frosting. I like that it’s made healthy and flavorful, great for any day snacking and partying.

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:30 am

        Totally a good snack, because it’s not too heavy!

        Reply
    13. Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health

      February 21, 2018 at 7:34 am

      i love how moist this cake looks…and that frosting on top is gorgeous!!!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:30 am

        Sometimes a simple frosting is all you need!

        Reply
    14. Gloria Duggan

      February 19, 2018 at 9:21 pm

      Well I happen to LOVE carrot cake…and I am the ONLY person in our house that does. I don’t know what is wrong with everyone else….weirdos?? We also are cat lovers….we have 2.

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:31 am

        More carrot cake for you, then!

        Reply
    15. sugarlovespices

      February 19, 2018 at 1:26 pm

      Hi Leslie, your cat is adorable, Nicoletta and I have a brother sister combination Wonton and Bailey, who are just the cutest spoiled fury creatures you could ever meet. Now for the cake. I love carrot cake and yours looks delectable. I love the Paleo option using cashew butter and coconut whipped cream sounds delicious! Great write up and thanks for introducing us to Padfoot, I hope he is feeling better really soon!
      Cheers!
      Loreto@sugarlovespices.com

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:32 am

        Thank you so much! He seems to be feeling much better, but he’s still having some issues with his leg where he’s limping a lot. Hoping it starts to heal soon!

        Reply
    16. Jen

      February 19, 2018 at 1:09 pm

      Oh my gosh, YUM. Carrot cake is one of my favorites and I love that you’ve got a healthier version. Can’t blame the kitties for wanting to try a bite. :)

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:32 am

        I suppose I can’t ;)

        Reply
    17. Matt Kearns

      February 19, 2018 at 10:22 am

      This carrot cake looks amazing. It looks like it has so many flavors and I can’t wait to try this recipe! Also my wife and I have three cats (surprisingly none are on tinder) and they usually try to eat everything I make. Great recipe Leslie!

      Reply
      • Leslie Haasch

        February 26, 2018 at 10:33 am

        Thank you! Maybe we need to make a cat Tinder app… Catter? Meower? :)

        Reply

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    Hi there! I'm Leslie. I use baking as an outlet for relieving stress and anxiety to provide you with easy to follow homemade recipes and a little humor. About Leslie ⟶

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