Okay, so you know how sometimes you just *crave* a slice of cozy, spiced carrot cake? Like, that warm, comforting hug in a bite? But thenโฆ the sugar part. Ugh. Well, let me tell you, Iโve been there! I spent ages trying to get that perfect flavour and super moist texture *without* all the added sugar, and I finally cracked it with this No Sugar Carrot Cake. Seriously, itโs a game-changer. It uses the natural sweetness from applesauce and ripe bananas, so you get all that deliciousness without any guilt. Itโs become my go-to when folks ask for a healthier treat!
Why You’ll Love This No Sugar Carrot Cake
Okay, so why is this No Sugar Carrot Cake my absolute fave? Well, for starters, itโs naturally sweetened with fruit โ no added sugar needed, which is pretty amazing! Youโll get that incredible moist texture everyone raves about, and honestly, itโs SO easy to whip up. Even picky eaters go bonkers for this cake, and itโs a total lifesaver when you want a delicious treat thatโs a bit healthier!
Ingredients for Your No Sugar Carrot Cake
Alright, let’s gather our goodies for this amazing No Sugar Carrot Cake! You’ll want about 2 cups of all-purpose flour to start, and then 2 teaspoons of baking soda to give it a nice lift. For those warm, cozy spices, grab 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg, and that little hint of 1/4 teaspoon of cloves, plus a pinch of salt. The stars of the moisture show are 1 1/2 cups of finely grated carrots (seriously, grate ’em fresh!), 1 cup of unsweetened applesauce, and 1/2 cup of mashed ripe banana. Oh, and you’ll need 1/2 cup of a good vegetable oil, 2 nice big eggs, and a teaspoon of vanilla extract for that classic cake flavour. If you’re feeling a bit nutty, 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts or pecans is totally optional but soooo good!
Essential Equipment for Baking Your No Sugar Carrot Cake
Alright, you donโt need a fancy professional kitchen for this! Youโll want a couple of good mixing bowls โ one for the dry stuff, one for the wet. A whisk is super handy for getting those dry ingredients all fluffy and mixed. Youโll also need a sturdy spatula for folding everything together, plus your measuring cups and spoons. And of course, youโll need a trusty 9ร13 inch baking pan. Thatโs pretty much it!
Step-by-Step Guide to Making No Sugar Carrot Cake
Alright, letโs get this amazing No Sugar Carrot Cake into the oven! Itโs really straightforward, and I promise youโll have a delicious, moist cake before you know it. Just follow these steps, and youโll be golden!
Preparing the Baking Pan and Oven
First things first, let’s get that oven preheated to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). You want it nice and ready! Then, grab your 9ร13 inch baking pan. I always give mine a good greasing and then a light dusting of flour. It sounds simple, but this step really stops the cake from sticking, which is just the worst when you pull it out, right?
Combining Dry Ingredients for Your No Sugar Carrot Cake
Now, in a big mixing bowl, dump in your flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Grab your whisk and give it all a good whisk-whisk-whisk! This just makes sure all those leavening agents and spices are spread out evenly. Nobody wants a bite thatโs just pure cinnamon!
Mixing the Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, itโs time for the wet stuff. Toss in your beautifully grated carrots โ I really mean it, fresh is best here, like in my `garlic herb roasted potatoes, carrots and zucchini`! Then add the unsweetened applesauce, that lovely vegetable oil, your ripe mashed banana โ great for natural sweetness, just like in my `healthy smashed carrots` recipe! โ and of course, your 2 big eggs and a teaspoon of vanilla.
Combining Wet and Dry Mixtures
Okay, pour all those lovely wet ingredients into the bowl with your dry ingredients. Now, hereโs the crucial part: stir it *just* until it’s combined. Seriously, if you overmix, you can end up with a tough cake, and we want this No Sugar Carrot Cake to be super tender. If youโre adding nuts, this is the moment to gently fold them in. They add such a nice little crunch, donโt they?
Baking Your No Sugar Carrot Cake to Perfection
Pour all that gorgeous batter into your prepared pan. Spread it out evenly so it bakes up nice and flat. Pop it into your preheated oven and let it bake for about 30 to 35 minutes. How do you know itโs ready? The easiest way is the trusty toothpick test. Stick a wooden skewer right in the center; if it comes out clean with just a few moist crumbs clinging to it, youโre golden!
Cooling and Serving Your No Sugar Carrot Cake
Once itโs baked, let the cake sit in the pan for about 10 minutes. This helps it solidify a bit. Then, carefully invert it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Patience is key here! Letting it cool fully means it wonโt fall apart when you slice into it โ and trust me, youโll want perfect slices of this No Sugar Carrot Cake!
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions for No Sugar Carrot Cake
Let’s chat a little more about these ingredients for our No Sugar Carrot Cake, because sometimes you need to swap things around, right? The applesauce and banana? They’re like nature’s candy here! They give the cake that lovely sweetness and keep it SO moist. If you don’t have applesauce, don’t stress! You can totally use more mashed banana or even some pumpkin puree, though it might change the flavour a tiny bit. Speaking of bananas, if youโre a banana bread fan, youโll love my `healthy banana oatmeal muffins` recipe. For the oil, vegetable oil is great, but melted coconut oil is a fantastic substitute if you have it and like that subtle flavour. And for the carrots, please, please try to grate them fresh! Those little pre-shredded ones from the store are just too dry, they really don’t give the cake the same life or moisture. Think of it like baking my `decadent pumpkin bread with chocolate chips`โfresh ingredients make all the difference!
Tips for the Best No Sugar Carrot Cake
Alright, letโs make this No Sugar Carrot Cake absolutely perfect! My biggest tip? Grate those carrots super fine! It really helps them blend into the batter and makes the cake extra moist. You know, sometimes I even give them a quick pulse in the food processor if I’m in a total rush, but the trusty box grater works like a charm for that classic texture. Also, please, please, *please* don’t overmix the batter once you add the wet to the dry ingredients. Just stir until it’s barely combined. Overmixing is the enemy of a tender cake โ it develops the gluten too much, and we want this to be like a fluffy cloud!
Frequently Asked Questions about No Sugar Carrot Cake
Can I make this No Sugar Carrot Cake with almond flour?
You sure can! If you want to use almond flour, Iโd suggest swapping out about half of the all-purpose flour for almond flour. Itโll give it a slightly denser, nuttier texture, which is pretty delicious. Just keep an eye on the baking time; nut flours can sometimes bake a little faster!
Can I add raisins or other dried fruit to this cake?
Oh, absolutely! Raisins are a classic in carrot cake, and theyโd be delightful here. Just toss about half a cup of raisins with a little bit of the dry flour mixture before adding them to the batter. This helps them from sinking to the bottom. You could also try dried cranberries or chopped dates for a different twist!
How long does this cake stay fresh, and where should I store it?
This No Sugar Carrot Cake stays nice and moist for about 3-4 days. I usually just keep it covered tightly at room temperature. If your house is really warm, or you’ve added a cream cheese frosting (which you totally can do, just use a sugar-free version!), storing it in the fridge is a good idea. Itโs still delicious cold or brought back to room temp!
Whatโs the best way to grate carrots for this recipe?
Honestly, the best way is with a good old-fashioned box grater on the medium holes. It gives you those perfect little shreds that bake up so tenderly and distribute evenly. If you have a food processor with a grating attachment, that works too! Just don’t use the really fine setting, as it can make the carrots almost disappear into the batter.
Nutritional Information for No Sugar Carrot Cake
Now, about the good stuff โ what’s actually in a slice of this wonderful No Sugar Carrot Cake? While it really depends on what flour you use and if you add nuts, youโre looking at roughly 250 calories per slice. Itโs got about 12g of fat, 35g of carbs (with about 3g of fiber!), and around 4g of protein. Itโs a much lighter option than your typical cake, which is exactly what we want when weโre aiming for healthier choices, you know? You can check out more `diet recipes` and `healthy recipes` here too!
Share Your No Sugar Carrot Cake Creations!
Okay, seriously, Iโd LOVE to hear how your No Sugar Carrot Cake turned out! Did you try adding nuts? Did you frost it with something yummy? Drop a comment below and tell me all about it, or even better, share a pic on social media and tag me! It makes my day to see you guys baking my recipes. You can learn a little more about me and my kitchen adventures over `here`!
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PrintNo Sugar Carrot Cake
A moist and flavorful carrot cake sweetened with natural ingredients, without added sugar.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 35 min
- Total Time: 55 min
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC). Grease and flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.
- In a separate bowl, combine the grated carrots, applesauce, vegetable oil, mashed banana, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix well.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in the chopped nuts, if using.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan and spread evenly.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting it onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- For a sugar-free frosting, you can use cream cheese mixed with a sugar substitute like stevia or erythritol.
- Ensure your carrots are finely grated for the best texture.
- You can substitute the vegetable oil with melted coconut oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Keywords: no sugar carrot cake, sugar-free cake, healthy carrot cake, natural sweetener cake, diabetic-friendly cake, carrot cake recipe