I have been on the hunt for a great tasting gluten free carrot cake recipe. With plans to visit family, and knowing my Mom was on a special diet, I had to come up with a gluten-free dessert. While creating something that was both gluten-free and lower in sugar was a challenge, I think we nailed it with this decadent dessert!
How’d we make this more diet-friendly? First, we reduced the sugar and fat by using apple sauce and Splenda. Then we tested a few gluten-free flours to see how the texture would hold up. And in the end, we created this delightful gluten-free carrot cake recipe. If you’re ready to start baking, click the “jump to recipe” button above. But if you have time to scroll, there are a few fun facts and baking tips for you below.
A Little Carrot Cake History
Carrot cake is most commonly served during the springtime, but we love to enjoy it year round! Though the history of carrot cake is disputed, it is thought that carrots were originally used as a substitute for sugar when sugar was rationed during the Second World War. But carrot cake is also the most popular cake in Switzerland according to the Culinary Heritage of Switzerland. It certainly is a popular dessert worldwide, perhaps because it feels a little like sneaking a healthy vegetable serving into a dessert. Either way, we hope you enjoy our gluten-free carrot cake recipe.
Recipe Testing Gluten-Free Flours
The results of my search for a gluten-free carrot cake recipe were a little disappointing and I ended up trying out a recipe I found on About.com. Though, I found a couple of flaws with it when I tested the recipe, such as the amount of cream cheese and oil suggested. Using only 3 ounces of cream cheese doesn’t produce enough frosting to cover the top of the cake, let alone the whole thing. And then from reading the comments on the recipe, I could tell that one and a half cups of oil would probably leave the center a sticky mess no matter how long it baked for.
So instead, we used apple sauce instead of oil, and reduced the amount used. After making a few adjustments, and testing the recipe three times, we finally indulged in a slice of gluten free carrot cake heaven. Honestly, I couldn’t even tell that this was gluten free!
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Ingredients
To make your shopping trip easier, here is a list of what you’ll need for both the cake and the icing.
- Splenda
- Eggs
- Unsweetened Apple Sauce
- Gluten-free All Purpose Flour Mix
- Baking Powder
- Baking Soda
- Xanthan Gum
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Vanilla Extract
- Chopped Walnuts
- Carrots
- Unsalted Butter
- Low Fat Cream Cheese
Carrot Cake Baking Tips and Tricks
For best results, allow the cakes to cool, then wrap them in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight before frosting.
For decorating the sides with walnuts, add 1 1/2 cup of walnuts and a tablespoon of cinnamon to a freezer bag and shake until the walnuts are well coated. Then, I take a handful at a time and press along the sides of the cake.
As for types of flour, I’ve used both Pillsbury and Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free all purpose flour and had great results with each.
Xanthan Gum, if you haven’t used it before, is for helping the ingredients to bind and not separate. It really helps the cake hold it’s shape and texture, especially when using gluten-free flour.
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Recipe Step-By-Step Photos
First, gather together all the ingredients listed above. Having everything pre-measured helps make the baking process feel easy.
You’ll need to peel the carrots and chop them into smaller 1 inch to 2 inch pieces. Then add them to a food processor and pulse until they’re chopped super small.
This is about the consistency you’re looking for when pulsing the carrot pieces in a food process or blender.
Cream the sugar and eggs in a large mixing bowl with an electric beater or stand mixer.
Next add the apple sauce and vanilla and blend until smooth.
In a seperate bowl, mix together your dry ingredients including the gluten-free flour, xanthan gum, and spices.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat until well blended.
Next, stir in the grated carrots and nuts using a fork.
Pour the batter into greased baking pans and bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
Once they are baked, let them cool completely before removing from the pan.
To make the frosting, add the butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and Splenda to a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. It will take an extra minute or two for the sugar granules to dissolve, but if you continue beating the graininess with smooth out.
Chill icing in the refrigerator for at least one hour before frosting.
Gluten Free Carrot Cake
A delicious gluten free carrot cake recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Splenda
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened apple sauce
- 2 cups gluten-free all purpose flour mix
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon xanthan gum
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped walnuts
- 2 cups freshly grated carrots
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature (for icing)
- 8 ounces of low fat cream cheese (for icing)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing)
- 1 cup Splenda (for icing)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Use two 9 inch cake pans or one 9x13 pan. Grease your baking pans with butter. I typically rub down the inside of the pan with a quarter of a cold stick of butter, making sure to cover all the surface area.
To start, measure out all your ingredients. It helps to add the baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and xanthan gum to one small bowl.
Peel 8 - 10 carrots, then chop into one inch chunks and add to a food processor. Blend them until they're finely grated. This should yield about two cups of grated carrots.
Cream the sugar and eggs in a large mixing bowl with an electric beater or stand mixer. Next add the apple sauce and vanilla and blend until smooth.
In a separate bowl, combine all your dry ingredients and mix them together using a whisk. This includes your gluten-free flour, baking soda, baking powder, xanthan gum, cinnamon, and salt.
Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and beat until well blended. Next, stir in the grated carrots and nuts using a fork.
Pour the batter into greased baking pans and bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.
To make the frosting, add the butter, cream cheese, vanilla extract, and Splenda to a large mixing bowl and beat until smooth and creamy. It will take an extra minute or two for the sugar granules to dissolve, but if you continue beating the graininess with smooth out. Chill icing in the refrigerator for at least one hour before frosting.
Notes
For best results wrap the cakes in plastic wrap and cool them (as well as the icing) overnight in the refrigerator before frosting.
For decorating the sides with nuts, add 1 1/2 cup of walnuts and a tablespoon of cinnamon to a freezer bag and shake until the nuts are well coated. Then, I take a handful at a time and press along the sides of the cake.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 331Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 688mgCarbohydrates: 34gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 9g
Nutrition information provided is only an estimate.
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Originally posted in 2013. Updated in 2021.
This looks really good, but II see that the recipe uses Splenda. Have you tried it with sugar instead? Just wondering if I substitute sugar, will it change the consistency/lightness?
Hello Diane!
I think you could substitute the splenda for regular sugar for the cake just fine. You might want to add a half cup more since Splenda is sweeter (more concentrated) then sugar.
For the icing, I’d use powdered sugar instead of Splenda. Regular sugar just doesn’t dissolve well so you might get a grainy texture. Since it’s also less dense, I’d start with a cup, and then add more in 1/4 cup increments until it’s the smooth and tastes the way you like it.
Enjoy!
Thanks!!
Absolutely loved this cake!
What can I substitute xanthan gum for? I have no idea where I could even find it..
Look for Bob’s Red Mills brand (that’s the only one I’ve seen in the consumer market). A lot of health food stores carry it and you can also find it online and can search around for the best price. If you can use a “gluten-free all purpose flour” then you can probably safely omit the xanthan gum as the all purpose flour usually has some mixed in.
Happy baking!
Rachelle
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Wonderful blog and brilliant style and design.
yum that looks so delicious!