Taddaaaaa here is, finally, the promised clean eating carrot cake recipe. Sorry for the delay, but the recipe needed a bit of adjusting and more tasting. What a hard life it is! I think this is it though, the cake is perfect. I love the texture, the sweetness, the shape, the no refined sugar and no dairy bit….basically I love it all!
People often think that clean eating means no sugar whatsoever. Well I follow a sugar- free lifestyle (I hate the word diet) which means lifestyle free of refined sugars including junk food, processed food, white flours, bread, white pasta and white rice. I still make loads of sweet cakes, treats, snacks, I am sure you have noticed, but instead of the usual white or brown sugar I opt in for sweeteners such as fruit and veg, maple syrup or honey and date syrup. Fruit and veggies are the best because they are naturally sweet and full of fiber, vitamin C, potassium, iron and other valuable nutrients. My top favourites are bananas, apples, dates, raisins, dried apricots but also carrots, sweet potatoes and beetroot. Beetroot in particular adds not only density but also amazing colour.
Clean eating carrot cake recipe
Back to this delicious clean eating carrot cake recipe. I used wholemeal spelt flour, which I realised typing this recipe it is my all-time favourite flour. I often hear spelt flour is a faddy health food, but not for me. I love the slightly nutty taste and I never get bloated after eating it.
Recipe
Clean eating carrot cake recipe
Ingredients
- 1 heaped cup grated carrot (the sweeter the better)
- 200 gr spelt flour
- ⅔ cup Provamel Soya yogurt (you can use any white yogurt, I just love Provamel)
- 3 flaxseed eggs (3 tablespoon flax seeds mixed with 3 tablespoon water, let it sit for 10 mins)
- 1.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 grated apple
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of nutmeg
- ½ cup sunflower seeds
- ½ cup raisins
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
- ½ cup maple syrup or any other sweetener you have
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 170 degrees and grease your cake tin.
- Start by mixing the flour with the baking powder.
- Next add cinnamon, nutmeg, sunflower seeds and raisins and set aside
- In another bowl mix the yogurt, flaxseed eggs, melted coconut oil and date syrup
- Mix both bowls together and add grated carrot and apple.
- Combine well and pour into a prepared cake tin
- Pop in the oven and bake for around 40 minutes.
- The cake is cooked when you insert a skewer and it comes out clean
Yum, just lovely. When serving I like to top each slice with some cute carrot shapes and extra raisins. This would make a fantastic packed lunch treat. I gave Sofia a slice the other day and she loved it. Plus there are no nuts so this is another great bonus.
As always please, if you make this recipe share it with me either on my Facebook,Twitter or Instagram. I would love to see it! Hashtag #HediHearts
Much love,
Hedi
rachel smith
Im so excited to try this!!! Thanks Hedi !! xxx
Hedi Hearts
It is amazing Rachel, so so nice. Let me know what you think xxx
wendy
hi can you use any other type of flour?
Hedi Hearts
Hi Wendy, you could try almond or buckwheat flour,but they might need different time baking times, so be careful. Hedi xx
Meg
As I don't have the bits to make flax eggs, could you use real eggs? Would it be 3?
Hedi Hearts
Yes normal eggs are fine and yes 3 please. Let me know if you loved it as much as I did . Hedi xxx
Kate
I made this cake this week - it is absolutely delish!! I am fairly new to the clean eating cooking and I much prefer this to the unhealthier versions! Yum 🙂
Hedi Hearts
yes, yes, yes, comments like these make me so happy! Thank you Kate xxx Hedi xxx
Karen Newman
Just made this and it tastes amazing! Do you have any idea how many calories are in it?
Hedi Hearts
Yay so happy that you like it. Sorry Karen, I don't count calories. Hedi xxx
lucy
looks good, what size cake tin do you use please??
Hedi Hearts
20cm big Lucy xx
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
This sounds fantastic! Love all the yogurt and the seeds! Super moist and hearty!
Aimee / Wallflower Kitchen
Carrot cake is one of the best parts of Easter! Looks so perfect and delicious!
Hedi Hearts
Thank you Aimee, carrot cake is one of my many favourites 🙂 xx
Uma Srinivas
Recently I got many carrot cake recipes, i will include this too 🙂 Looks wonderful!
Linda @ Veganosity
I love how many versions of carrot cake recipes are everywhere on the web right now. Yours looks great, Hedi! I'm sure the yogurt gives it a great texture.
Hedi Hearts
I know, I also have seen loads! Must be the spring 🙂 Hedi xx
Siobhan
Hi can anyone give me a gluten free alternative to spelt flour that would work well in this recipe please??
Hedi Hearts
Hi Siobhan, I haven't tried, but I think almond flour could work nicely too, just be careful with baking time. Hedi xxx
Tish
What a guilt free way to enjoy an awesome dessert. This looks great.
Gin
This cake looks awesome! I love the apple and seeds, such a nice twist for a carrot cake.
Donna
Oh yum, this sounds fantastic! I haven't had carrot cake in so long, and must rectify it now! I made the perfect clean eating frosting the other day which needs to be used up, and I am quite sure it would be perfect on top of this delicious cake 🙂
Jo
I've never made carrot cake before so can't compare this to a 'normal' recipe but I do eat a lot of sugar-filled shop bought versions and this was SO much nicer.
I'm not much of a cook (or at all really, I burn toast) but I'm trying to clean up our whole family's diet so gave this a go and I'm in love.
I prefer it to the shop-bought version (genuinely) and didn't even miss the icing.
My kids gobbled up their slices (and they don't usually like carrot cake) and this is definitely a treat we'll be going back to again and again... and again.
Do you have an apple cake recipe at all? Your sweet treats are literally the best I've found online anywhere!
Hedi Hearts
Jo, you have made my day, literally! I am jumping around with a joy! This is the reason why I created my blog, for lovely people like you! Haven't got apple cake on my blog yet, but have added it on my list of recipes to create. Have a beautiful day and once again thank you for such a lovely comment! Hedi xxx
Sally
Just made this and used 3 normal eggs and Greek yoghurt plus I substituted the sunflower seeds for 1/4 cup walnuts and 1/4 pumpkin seeds. And for the maple syrup I used honey. It tastes amazing and def gives me a sweet fix 🙂 thanks for sharing a fab recipe x
Hedi Hearts
Awww great Sally, love your creativity! Hedi xx
Amanda Hancock
This looks lovely! Can you freeze it?
Hedi Hearts
Yes you can Amanda, it freezes well. Hedi xx