Refined Sugar Free Carrot Cake

Did someone say cake? Everyone enjoys a decadent piece of cake on occasion, And just because you lead a healthy lifestyle doesn’t mean you should go without.

While a large amount of cakes usually contain high quantities refined sugar, there is some that can be altered. I’ve been recipe testing all my old baking recipes, altering them making them refined sugar-free and this one was a definite winner, even better than the original in my opinion.

Everything in moderation of course just because its ‘sugar free’ doesn’t mean you can consume half a cake in one day like a impulsive sweet tooth, rather enjoy a piece like you would of in the past. Relax, Pop the kettle on, invite your friends over & enjoy!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Time: 1 hour +
Difficulty: fairly easy
Print

Sugar-free take on Carrot Cake

Ingredients

2/3 cup coconut oil or light flavoured oil such as grape seed

1/2 cup honey or rice malt syrup

6 dates chopped

2 eggs

2 cups grated carrots (around 2 large)

2/3 cup walnuts roughly chopped reserving some to decorate

1 1/2 cup spelt flour (or plain wholemeal)

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp all spice

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp ginger

Cream Cheese Icing

250g Cream Cheese roughly chopped

1/3 cup honey or rice malt syrup

1 tsp vanilla extract

125g butter softened roughly chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 160’c fan forced / 180’c conventional
Grease a 20cm cake tin or line with baking paper (if using a larger tin you will need to shorten the baking time check with a skewer after 45mins)
Soak dates in boiling water set aside
In a large bowl beat oil, rice malt syrup and eggs with an electric mixer for 5 mins
Discard water from dates and add to bowl, mix again for 1 min
Add grated carrot and walnuts
Sift flour, baking powder then add all spice, cinnamon, ginger and gently mix until well combined
Pour cake mix into prepared tin and bake for 1 hour
Once cake has cooled prepare icing
Beat together cream cheese, rice malt, vanilla and butter for 5 minutes until light and fluffy
Cut Cake in half horizontally and separate halves
Spread half the cream cheese icing on bottom cut half then replace the top cake half
Spread remaining icing on the top of cake
Decorate with extra walnuts and sprinkle of cinnamon