Almond flour is ideal for carrot cake. Its nuttiness pairs superbly with the carrots, raisins, and spices, and it simply so occurs to be gluten-free. Carrot cake has all the time been a little bit of a paradox. It sounds virtuous, however it’s normally not. Maybe the almond flour makes it a tiny bit more healthy? Even when it does, it appears like a dessert cake via and thru, particularly with a thick layer of cream cheese frosting.
Smaller Measurement Cake — Loaf or Six Inch
There are different almond flour carrot cake recipes, however most of them are giant and I simply needed a small loaf dimension cake. This one matches an 8 ½ by 4 ½ inch loaf pan, however it will not come to the highest and it ought to bake up flat. So despite the fact that you employ a loaf pan, you’re actually simply making rectangular cake. If you would like to make a six inch layer cake, this recipe matches two 6-inch cake pans. For a good smaller cake, you possibly can halve this recipe and make your self a cute one layer 6-inch cake.
Almond Flour, Coconut Flour, Cornstarch
One factor I’ve seen when baking with almond flour is that cookies and muffins prove higher after I mix the almond flour with a little bit of coconut flour. The coconut flour soaks up further moisture and helps forestall the cake from taking up a steamed, soggy texture. Usually only a little bit of coconut flour will do, however since carrots have a lot moisture I threw in slightly cornstarch as effectively. So the purpose right here is that despite the fact that it is solely a tablespoon of coconut flour and a teaspoon of cornstarch, it is value including.
A Few Extra Almond Flour Carrot Cake Notes
Carrot cake usually has loads of oil, however utilizing almond flour rather than wheat flour permits you to lower the oil considerably. I’ve made this with several types of oil and like melted coconut oil the most effective. As for the sugar, you need to use the sweetener of your selection. My mates actually loved a model sweetened with a coconut sugar, however brown sugar works simply tremendous. As for the maple syrup, be happy to go away it out and use slightly further sugar, however it does add a pleasant taste.
Raisins, Nuts, Coconut and Pineapple
A good friend of examined the cake for me and stated it reminded him slightly of fruitcake. It does in a manner with the entire raisins, nuts and pineapple, however it nonetheless has a carrot cake crumb. I’ve examined with an with out the pineapple and it is good each methods. Recently I have been leaving it out. I personally wouldn’t miss the raisins as a result of they add some dimension to the feel, however you possibly can substitute with one other dried fruit. Currants work effectively.
Cream Cheese Frosting
The cream cheese frosting is simply the fundamental formulation, and it actually provides one thing to the cake. I’ve made it with gentle cream cheese and I’ve additionally made with powdered allulose sugar, and imagine it or not it was good! It is onerous to go mistaken with this specific frosting, however if you’d like a much less candy cake you possibly can go away it off.
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Recipe
Almond Flour Carrot Cake
For finest outcomes, go by weight. I have been utilizing King Arthur model almond flour with a complete weight of 150 grams for for 1 ½ cups.
Components
CAKE:
- 1 ½ cups tremendous blanched almond flour (150 grams)
- 1 tablespoon coconut flour (7 grams)
- 1 teaspoon cornstarch (3 grams)
- ¾ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon floor cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 2 giant eggs
- ½ cup flippantly brown sugar or coconut sugar (I exploit the burden of 100 grams)
- 1 ½ tablespoons maple syrup (30 grams)
- ¼ cup oil (melted coconut oil) (45 grams)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups grated carrot, drain on paper towel (150 grams)
- ⅓ cup unsweetened coconut flakes (35 grams)
- ⅔ cup coarsely chopped walnuts
- ½ cup raisins, soaked in water or pineapple juice and drained
- ½ cup crushed pineapple, very effectively drained and pressed dry (non-compulsory)
Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened (common or gentle)
- 2 ounce butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ to cups powdered sugar
- 1 pinch salt, however can omit should you use salted butter
Directions
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Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease an 8 ½ by 4 ½ inch loaf pan and line with a strip of parchment. For a 6-inch cake, use two 6-inch spherical cake pans.
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Combine the almond flour, coconut flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices collectively and put aside.
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In a mixing bowl, utilizing a scraper or a whisk, combine the eggs till blended, then beat within the sugar, maple syrup, oil and vanilla. Add the flour combination and stir till blended, then stir within the carrots, walnuts, raisins, coconut and pineapple (if utilizing).
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Unfold batter within the pan and bake at 325°F for about 55-60 minutes (40 minutes if utilizing 6-inch rounds) or till a wood choose inserted in heart comes out clear. Let cool, then frost with cream cheese frosting.
Cream Cheese Frosting
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Make the frosting. Beat the cream cheese and butter till clean and creamy, then step by step add the sugar, beating till clean. Beat in vanilla and a pinch of salt for taste.
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Unfold over the cooled cake or pipe it.