Vegan Carrot Cake

This carrot cake recipe uses healthy ingredients like applesauce and crushed pineapple to keep it moist, delicious, and vegan!

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Frosting 10

Total Time 50

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Southern

Servings

Calories 400 kcal

Ingredients

Cake Ingredients

3 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup crushed pineapple
2 cups shredded carrots heaping
1/2 cup carrot puree can sub with carrot baby food
1 cup sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp nutmeg
3 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup applesauce
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp vanilla extract

Frosting Ingredients

8 oz vegan cream cheese or regular, if not making vegan version
4 oz vegan butter or regular, if not making vegan version
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

Carrot Cake Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line cake pans with parchment. If the pans are non-stick, you can skip the parchment.
In a large bowl, measure and mix the flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, ground ginger, and nutmeg.
In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the sugar, carrot puree, pineapple, applesauce, vinegar, and vanilla.
Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix just until the flour is fully incorporated. Stir in the grated carrot. At this point, add in any optional ingredients. Stir until everything is combined but do not over mix.
Pour the cake batter into pans so that they are equally filled and level. Place into your oven and bake for 30 minutes.

Frosting Instructions

Use your mixer to beat the cream cheese until smooth.
Add in the butter and vanilla.
Slowly add in the powdered sugar one-half cup at a time, blending until fully mixed.
Let the cakes cool completely before frosting. Begin by frosting the bottom layer and then gently place the next cake on top. Complete the frosting process by making sure everything is covered and smooth using a spatula or frosting utensil of your choice.

Notes

Optional ingredients: shredded , or pecans, cranberries, or (about 1/2 cup each). If you add a lot of options, you may need a bit more applesauce to keep the mix moist.

Nutrition

Calories: 400kcalCarbohydrates: 70gProtein: 5gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 537mgPotassium: 196mgFiber: 4gSugar: 42gVitamin A: 4830IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 2mg

Keyword carrots, vegan

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