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No Sugar Carrot Cake

A moist, lightly spiced carrot cake sweetened naturally with applesauce and banana, topped with a cream cheese-style frosting without added sugar.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 12 slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 180
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cake Ingredients
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsweetened applesauce For sweetness and moisture
  • 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas About 2 medium bananas
  • 1/4 cup melted coconut oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups grated carrots About 3-4 medium carrots
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans Optional
Frosting Ingredients
  • 8 ounces cream cheese Softened
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce For frosting
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For frosting

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and lightly flour a 9×13 inch baking pan.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the applesauce, mashed bananas, melted coconut oil, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Pour the wet mixture into the dry mix and stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
  5. Fold in the grated carrots and nuts (if using) until evenly distributed.
Baking
  1. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan and bake for 30–35 minutes. The cake is done when a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean.
  2. Let the cake cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Frosting
  1. Beat together the cream cheese, applesauce, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  2. Spread the frosting over the fully cooled cake. Chill for 20–30 minutes to set before cutting.

Notes

Don’t frost while the cake is warm. Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days. Freezing unfrosted slices is recommended for longer storage.