Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
248 Comments
Mar 25, 2021
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
This gluten-free carrot cake is a rustic naked cake, made with three layers of perfectly spiced carrot cake, and slathered with a luscious cream cheese frosting!
Your search for the best gluten-free carrot cake stops here. This triple layer carrot cake is unbelievably moist, and filled with your favorite spiced flavors along with a good portion of healthy carrots. Is the cake itself healthy? Well, that might be a bit of a stretch. But I did go light on the ultra creamy cream cheese frosting.
With how scrumptious this cake is, no one will even notice it’s gluten-free. I love to serve it up for the best Easter dessert (it always gets rave reviews), but don’t be shy enjoying it year round. It’s perfect for parties and get togethers as well!
What’s In This Carrot Cake
While this may look like a long list of ingredients, please don’t be intimidated. It’s super easy to make, and the results are worth it. Here’s what you’ll need:
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Ingredients
- Almond Flour: I always use blanched almond flour for the finest texture.
- Tapioca Flour: A little bit of tapioca flour helps to create that lighter, fluffier texture.
- Coconut Sugar: The slight caramel undertones of coconut sugar are ah-mazing in this cake.
- Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground ginger are the ultimate carrot cake spice mix.
- Baking Soda: A little bit of baking soda gives lift to the cake.
- Cream of Tartar: This is the “acid” that activates the baking soda. You could always swap these two items with baking powder if you prefer.
- Eggs: Grab a few large eggs and you’re good to go.
- Butter: I’m using butter, but you can use ghee or coconut oil as well, if you’d like to keep it dairy-free.
- Applesauce: A secret ingredient that helps keep this carrot cake super moist.
- Vanilla Extract: Adds a smidge of sweetness to the overall base.
- Shredded Carrots: The star ingredients – loads of carrots! And I’ve got some tips below for how to grate them fast and easy.
- Pecans: A sprinkle of chopped pecans on top adds a contrasting nutty crunch.
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- Cream Cheese: It’s thick texture and tangy flavor makes it perfect for a lavish frosting. It’s my fave!
- Butter: You can also use ghee as well.
- Powdered Sugar: I’m using organic powdered sugar to help create that classic sweet, and fluffy cream cheese frosting.
- Vanilla Extract: For a little touch of sweetness.
Find the printable recipe with measurements below.
Ways to Shred Carrots
While I’m using my KitchenAid shredding attachment to grate the carrots quickly, there’s two other ways to shred carrots.
- Grater: Peel the carrots and use either a box or plane grater to grate the carrots. This method is a little more labor intensive, but it works just fine.
- Food Processor: Peel and cut the carrots into 3″ long pieces. Attach the shredding blade to your food processor and shred away. This is a super quick and easy method.
Let’s Make the Best Carrot Cake Recipe
To get started, preheat your oven to 325F, grease your pans, and line them with parchment paper. Then follow along below.
- Mix the dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk them all together.
- Mix the wet ingredients. In a separate large bowl, mix everything together with a whisk or hand mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds.
- Blend it all together. Add the dry mixture into the wet and blend for one more minute until combined. Then fold in the carrots and pecans.
- Pour the batter into the pans. Note that the pans will only be ¼ full, and use a spatula to smooth out the top.
- Bake and cool. Bake for 30-35 minutes, rotating the cake halfway through. Then pull out the cake, let it cool for 15 minutes, and remove it onto a cooling rack.
- Make the frosting and slather it on. Mix the frosting ingredients in a large bowl with a stand mixer or hand mixer on medium speed. Then divide the frosting between the cake layers.
Carrot Cake Tips & Substitutions
- If you don’t do dairy. Good news, the cake itself can be made dairy-free. And I promise you this gluten-free carrot cake is abundantly delicious all on it’s own. So feel free to skip the frosting. Or, you could make a dairy-free buttercream, similar to the one I used on my Coconut Amaretto Crepe Cake (minus the amaretto and shredded coconut).
- Feel free to modify this cake with classic mix-ins such as raisins, shredded coconut, or even pineapple!
- If you don’t have three 8-inch pans you can also do this recipe in two 9-inch pans. Just adjust the cook time accordingly.
- If you want to make this cake in advance wrap the cooled, and unfrosted layers completely in plastic wrap. Then store in the fridge for a couple of days or in the freezer for a couple of weeks. Just add frosting to the thawed layers before serving!
- If you want to store a frosted cake in advance you can do that too. Just be aware that since the sides have very little frosting, it may dry out more than a fully frosted cake. But you can store the cake completely frosted at room temperature or in the fridge for 2-3 days, and in the freezer for up to a month. Just place the cake in the freezer for an hour to let the frosting harden, then cover completely with plastic wrap.
How to Store Carrot Cake Leftovers
You can use the same methods mentioned above if you’ve got a large portion of leftovers. If you just have a slice or two, simply place them in an airtight container in either the fridge or freezer for up to a week.
More Cake Recipes to Indulge In
Whether it’s for a special occasion or a treat yourself kind of day, these cake recipes are always a hit.
- Paleo Chocolate Cake
- Paleo Lemon Blueberry Cake
- Flourless Chocolate Cake
- Vegan Caramel Cheesecake
- Berry Sheet Cake
If you make this carrot cake, let me know how it turned out! I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below.
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
Description
Ingredients
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
- 2 ½ cups almond flour
- ½ cup tapioca flour
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 3 tsp cream of tartar
- ½ tsp salt
- 5 large eggs
- ½ cup butter, ghee, or coconut oil, melted and room temperature
- ½ cup applesauce
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups shredded carrots
- ½ cup chopped pecans, plus extra for garnish
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 4 tbsp butter, room temperature
- 3 cups powdered sugar, or more as needed
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F. Grease three 8-inch pans and line the bottom of each with a circle of parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, add all of the dry ingredients and whisk together. In a separate large bowl, add the eggs, butter, applesauce and vanilla extract. With a whisk or hand mixer on medium speed, blend together for 30 seconds. Then add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and blend for another minute, or until well combined. Fold in the shredded carrots and chopped pecans.
- Evenly divide the cake batter between the three 8-inch pans. They'll only be about 1/4 full, and that's okay. Use a spatula to flatten them on top. Cook the cakes for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Once done, let the cakes cool for 15 minutes in the pan. Then remove them from the pan and continue cooling on a cooling rack.
- While the cakes are cooling, make the cream cheese frosting. Combine all frosting ingredients together and blend in a stand mixer or large bowl with a hand mixer on medium speed.
- Divide the frosting between the layers and add a thin layer of frosting to the outside edge. Use a spatula to then scrape that off like a crumb coat. Top with a sprinkle of chopped pecans.
Lisa’s Tips
- One quick note about the three pans. It will seem like the pans barely have any batter and that’s okay. Once you divide the carrot cake batter between three pans they’ll only be about 1/4 full, but your cake will rise. It will also cook faster and bonus, my layers cooked and stayed 100% flat, so there was no need to trim a dome. You could also do this recipe in two 9-inch pans. Just adjust the cook time accordingly.
Nutrition
©Downshiftology. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
Recipe originally published April 2017, but updated to include new photos.
Have you used the base ingredients to make a vanilla cake? I’m thinking if I leave out the spices, carrot and pecans it would make a nice spongey vanilla cake but I thought I’d ask before jumping into it! Love this recipe and your pumpkin one, I make them a couple times a year for both cake and cupcakes ♡
I’ve tried making a vanilla cake, but haven’t had success yet. If it comes out for you, please let me know though!
Best carrot cake ever! I took a risk and made this for my partner’s birthday. We declared it even better than our favorite restaurant carrot cake (much discussed). The cake texture was moist, and the frosting was so smooth and dreamy! I found that it was fully cooked at 25 minutes. My only modification was to add a bit of ground cardamom, as I do with any recipe that calls for cinnamon.
Hi Tara – Amazing! I’m glad you found a winning carrot cake recipe.
Just wondering, can I make this in a bundt pan or cheesecake or cupcake pan? Looks delicious and worthy of a good try:)
Hi Gladys – I haven’t tried, but it could potentially work!
The cake looks fabulous & I know my husband would be thrilled because it’s gluten-free… but any chance you can rework this recipe without the eggs… for me?
Hi Marcy – I will definitely keep that in mind for future testing!
How can I adjust the recipe temperature and time for muffins?
Hi Yesenia – I haven’t tested these as muffins yet, but will keep that in mind for a future recipe!
Made this for valentine’s this year. Left out ground ginger, substituted banana for applesauce, and used coconut sugar instead of powdered sugar – turned out so delicious still! Will be a constant rotation for special occasions for sure.
So happy you enjoyed this carrot cake!
Can you make a video for this recipe?
Yes, it’s on my to-do list for the future!
Thank you for sharing this GF carrot cake recipe. I had planned on making my usual very delicious gluten carrot cake for Easter but then came across your recipe. I was very happy to try it and thankfully it turned out perfectly! I made it in two 9 inch cake pans. My family really enjoyed the cake, even a few younger grandkids! That’s a plus! I plan to make it again not only at Easter time but to share it with a few of my friends who eat GF. Thanks again!
So thrilled to hear your family enjoyed this gluten-free carrot cake, Diane!
I make this cake a few times a year. Its the best carrot cake I’ve ever had. I made it for this past Easter celebration. I usually use coconut oil but I used butter this time and it made a world of difference! There is no other recipe for me.
Hi Lillian – I’m so glad you love this carrot cake recipe!
Fantastic! Made for Easter dinner yesterday, baked it in a 9 x 13 pan for about 45 minutes. It was moist and delicious! Thank you!
Happy you loved the carrot cake!
Absolutely delicious! I love a carrot cake without raisins but it’s hard to find. Now I can make my own. I’m not a baker and this was the first cake I have ever made other than box recipes. I was sure I was going to mess it up but it was fool proof! This will be a new Easter addition, thank you!
Yay! Love to hear you enjoyed this carrot cake, Danielle. Happy Easter!
Ultimately delicious🐣
What is the best way to store cake & how long?
Refrigerate and also freeze?
Thx
Surfin Granny💃
Hi Susie – Happy you love this gluten-free carrot cake! Yes, you can refrigerate it for several days, or store it in an airtight container and freeze for several months. Enjoy!
I forgot to rotate half way through.
They seem okay. I’ll be frosting in tomorrow. They maybe a little flat. But I hope it works out. Love this recipe and I do it a few times a year!
Hopefully your cake turned out beautifully, Lillian. :)
Yes it was amazing.
I wish I could add a picture.
Lillian
Looking for a dairy free cream cheese frosting for this..
Hi Lisa – I haven’t tested one out yet. But when I do, I will be sure to let you all know :)
Been using Tofutti for years & have found for the taste – it’s the best substitute for cream cheese.
I love carrot cake and this cake did not disappoint! It is moist and tender with just the right amount of warm spices. And the frosting really takes it over the top! Delicious recipe!
Hi Adrienne – Happy to hear you love this carrot cake recipe!
I have made and love this recipe. I was thinking of trying an add-in though, maybe the pineapple? Since it has a lot of moisture, how should I add it to the recipe and how much? I would assume you would add crushed pineapple??
I was thinking of doing that as well so I was going to reduce the amount of apple sauce.
Personally I would sub crushed pineapple for the applesauce if I was wanting pineapple.
Best carrot receipe!!! My colleagues and friends really loved it.
Hi Sim – Happy to hear everyone loves this carrot cake recipe!
Looking to make this tomorrow! My Husband is newly gf and loves carrot cake….question on frosting….do you think I cN make it df with df cream cheese and butter or would it not hold up?
Hi Stef – While I haven’t tried that, yes, I think it should hold up pretty well. Enjoy!
Everyone has loved it. Made it 3 times in one week. Living in Sri Lanka and almond flour is astronomical here looking into substitutes. 🤔
I’m happy you loved the recipe, Barbara!
This carrot cake recipe is THE favorite cake recipe at our house. I love that it uses a good amount of carrots in it. Just made the cake again for a birthday celebration and everyone loved it. I’ve made it 4 or 5 times before and it is so reliable and delicious. I think it is better the 2nd or 3rd day after making so always make it ahead of time. This time, I stored the cake layers in sealed containers for a day and then made the frosting the next day and frosted the cake. Thanks for your reliable recipes!
Thrilled to hear you’re loving this carrot cake recipe, Deb!
This is my second year in a row making this as my birthday cake. I love the moistness, the texture and how it isn’t too sweet. Thanks for creating the recipe!
Thrilled to hear this carrot cake recipe is becoming a part of your birthday tradition, Fawn!
My daughters favorite cake is carrot cake. Before she learned about her allergies to tree nuts, including coconut I made this for her birthdays, whoops. Can I substitute the almond flour and the coconut sugar? And of course I’ll leave off the pecans also. ( poor girl )
Hi Susan – I’m sure you can, but as I haven’t tested it with other flours I don’t know what those ratios might be. But yes, you can use another sugar. :)
This was an Fun and easy healthy dessert to make and it was a crowd pleaser too!