Love carrot cake? We do, too. Having fun with a slice on particular events (or simply after a very worrying day) is nicely value it. However when you’re searching for a more healthy approach to get pleasure from your cake—on the common or irregular—we’ve bought the more healthy carrot cake recipe you’ve been searching for.
Heart specialist and MyFitnessPal scientific advisory board member Danielle Belardo, MD, developed a high-fiber, sugar-free carrot cake recipe that’s the actual deal. It’s a scrumptious but nutritious approach to fulfill your subsequent carrot cake craving.
Dr. Belardo’s carrot cake subs out white flour for heartier entire wheat flour and almond flour. Entire wheat flour is a complete grain, which might scale back irritation, increase your immune system, and assist with weight administration. Almond flour, alternatively, is fabricated from floor almonds, that are excessive in antioxidants and have been linked to decreased threat of coronary heart illness and improved intestine microbiome.
Not like most carrot cake recipes—and most cake recipes generally—this one doesn’t have any white sugar. Somewhat, it will get its sweetness from maple syrup. Maple syrup has larger ranges of antioxidants than refined sugar and a decrease glycemic index, which might scale back spikes in blood sugar.
Desserts are sometimes excessive in fats. However as an alternative of butter and dairy merchandise, this cake requires more healthy fats sources, together with cashews and unsweetened almond milk. Consuming nuts has a bunch of well being advantages, together with improved coronary heart well being, decreased threat of diabetes, and decrease ldl cholesterol.
It wouldn’t be carrot cake with out, nicely, carrots. However this model additionally contains unsweetened applesauce and raisins for added fiber. The carrots are a very good supply of beta carotene, which your physique converts into vitamin A, whereas the applesauce is stuffed with phytochemicals that may scale back the danger of power ailments. And raisins—when you select so as to add them—can enhance digestion and assist stability your intestine microbiome.
Excessive-Fiber, Sugar-Free More healthy Carrot Cake Recipe
Substances:
- 1.5 cups entire wheat flour
- 1/2 cup almond flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- Optionally available: 1/2 cup raisins
For the frosting:
- 1 cup soaked cashews
- 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).Grease a 9-inch cake pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Combine the dry components. In a big bowl, whisk collectively entire wheat flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Mix the moist components. In one other bowl, combine the applesauce, almond milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the moist combination into the dry components and stir till simply mixed.
- Fold within the grated carrots and chopped walnuts (and raisins, if utilizing).
- Pour the batter into the ready pan and easy the highest. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or till a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clear.
- Let the cake cool within the pan for 10 minutes, then switch it to a wire rack to chill utterly.
- Whereas the cake is cooling, mix the soaked cashews, almond milk, lemon juice, maple syrup, and vanilla extract till easy.
- As soon as the cake is totally cool, unfold the cashew frosting excessive.
- Minimize into slices and serve.
Dietary data: 220-250 energy; 3-4g fiber