Amazingly Healthy Carrot Cake

Here is a recipe that I adapted from a traditional carrot cake recipe. I guarantee you won't miss the oil in the cake as much as the real cream cheese frosting!

Amazingly Healthy Carrot Cake

• ¾ cup water

• 4 Tbsp chia seeds

• 2 cups organic whole wheat flour or flour of your choice

• 2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ½ tsp baking soda

• 3 cups finely grated carrots, lightly packed

• ¾ cups unsweetened applesauce

• ½ cup whole or chopped pecans or walnuts for decoration (optional)

• ½ cup raisins 

• ½ cup full pulp orange juice

• ⅓ cup maple syrup

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Make chia “egg” by combining chia seeds and water together.  Let gel for 15 minutes before adding to the recipe. 

1.  Use non-stick ceramic cake pans if available or grease and flour alternative pans if needed.

2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and baking soda.

3. In a medium mixing bowl, combine chia “egg”, carrots, applesauce, maple syrup and raisins soaked in orange juice.  Add moist ingredients to the dry flour mixture.  Stir until combined.  Pour batter into the 2 cake pans evenly.  

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from pans.  Cool on racks.  Top with Silken Tofu Frosting and pecans or walnuts if desired.  Store cake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Silken Tofu Dressing

• 1 lb silken tofu

• 2 Tbsp fresh-squeezed lemon juice

• 4 Tbsp Monk Fruit “sugar” or maple syrup

• 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

1. Gather all of your vegan vanilla frosting ingredients. Remove the silken tofu from its package and pat dry with a clean, dry dish towel or a few pieces of paper towel. You don’t need to squeeze to remove all the water – we want to keep some. 

2. Place the silken tofu, fresh lemon juice, monk fruit sugar, and vanilla bean paste into a high-powered blender or food processor. Secure the lid and process, pureeing until the mixture is perfectly smooth.

3. Taste the silken tofu frosting and adjust any ingredients as necessary, such as more Monk Fruit or maple syrup for sweetness, more lemon, or a dash more vanilla.

4. Remove the dairy-free, vanilla frosting from the blender or processor and use it to top your favorite  cake or cupcakes! Serve and enjoy!