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This Gluten-Free Carrot Cake is so easy to make, has such classic flavors and is perfect to serve a crowd. This healthier, more nutrient dense take on the classic carrot cake is gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo friendly and made without any refined sugars! It can be topped with a classic cream cheese frosting, or made dairy-free with homemade fluff. Either way it will be welcome at any celebration or holiday dinner (or just a regular tuesday afternoon)!
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake
We are so in love with this Gluten-Free Carrot Cake! Aside from the fact that this carrot cake is just darn delicious, our version is so much more nutrient dense and healthier than a traditional cake that we don’t feel so ridiculous eating it for breakfast. It’s the perfect cake to serve at a celebration of family holiday and is a breeze to make! The cake itself is also dairy-free and paleo, plus we give options below for changing out the cream cheese frosting..
This Gluten Free Carrot Cake is SO EASY to make because it’s made all in one bowl! So we wanted to keep the rest of the cake simple too by making it a sheet cake. We baked it in a 9×13″ cake pan, but it will work in any similar sized baking dish. We’ve done layer cakes in the past year (see chocolate and vanilla versions) so this just felt like the way to go, though you can bake this as a layer cake if you wanted. In the past we’ve recommended always baking our style of gluten free cakes in 6″ pans because they are slightly more delicate while also being heavier than traditional wheat cake, but this one might work well baked in 2-8″ cake pans if you’d like to make it a layer cake.
Which gluten free flour is best for cake?
As always we love our favorite blend of almond and coconut flour. It is so moist and tender and really easy to use. Most people wouldn’t be able to tell the cake was gluten free. If you are looking for a nut free cake, check out this recipe here.
Other frosting options:
We’ve opted to top this with a classic cream cheese frosting, but you can feel free to use either a dairy-free cream cheese with this recipe or instead top it with our Marshmallow Fluff recipe which is dairy and refined sugar free. This cake is also delicious by itself and can be served alone, but this gluten-free carrot cake uses less sugar than most carrot cakes so you may notice it more without a frosting.
Tips for Making Gluten-Free Cake
- Sift your almond flour and coconut flour first if they are lumpy. It makes it easier to fully incorporate.
- Use an electronic kitchen scale if you have one. It makes it easier to measure the gluten free flours, and we’ve included grams in the ingredient list.
- Gluten free cakes are a little tricker to check when they are done. Some signs to look out for: the cake is nice and golden brown, it has completely puffed up throughout, cracks are not uncommon, when you stick toothpick it it should come out clean, and when you gently press in in the center of the cake it will spring back as opposed to leaving a dent (which is a sign it is underdone).
- Let the cake cool completely before frosting.
- The cake can be made up to two days in advance. Leave it at room temperature covered until ready to frost.
- We direct you to use a parchment paper sling to bake the cake in. If you plan to serve the cake inside of the baking pan you do not need to use this. If you want to take the cake out and serve on a different platter the sling will help you easily take it out of the pan.
- Once it is frosted it needs to be kept in the refrigerator. It can be assembled up to two days in advance. As most cakes, it will get more moist each day it sits.
In this recipe, we used these tools:
- 9×13 Inch Cake Pan
- Electric Mixer (for frosting)
- Offset spatula
- Other Essentials:
- Bowls
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
If you like this cake recipe, check out these others:
- Gluten Free Hostess Cupcakes
- The Best Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake
- Nut-Free Gluten-Free Cake
- The Best Gluten-Free Layer Birthday Cake
- Caramel Upside Down Honey Cake
- Chocolate Cupcakes
- Paleo Cupcakes
Gluten-Free Carrot Cake (Easy Sheet Cake)
Ingredients
For Cake:
- 1/2 cup avocado oil
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup unsweetened almond milk or milk of choice
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups 384g almond flour
- 1 cup 96g coconut flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger optional
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3 cup carrots 4 large, grated
- 1 cup pecans chopped (optional)
- 1/2 cup shredded coconut optional
- 1/2 cup raisins optional
For Frosting:
- 12 ounces cream cheese at room temperature
- 3/4 cup butter at room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 5 cups organic powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF. Prepare a 9" x 13" cake pan or baking dish by coating with cooking spray and making a parchment paper sling. Set aside.
- In a large bowl add the avocado oil, coconut sugar, eggs, almond milk and vanilla extract. Whisk well until fully combined.
- To the bowl add the almond flour, coconut flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices and salt and whisk it together until it's fully combined.
- Fold in the carrots, pecans, coconut and raisins.
- Place batter into the prepared baking dish and smooth down the top with an offset spatula.
- Baking in the middle rack for 45 minutes, or until the top is puffy and the cake springs back when lightly pushed down in the center.
- Let cool completely. This step can be done up to two days in advance.
To make the frosting:
- With an electric mixer beat the butter until fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the cream cheese and vanilla and beat until the mixture has lightened up, about 3 minutes.
- Add the salt and sugar and mix on low speed until well blended. Increase the speed to medium and beat until fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes.
To assemble:
- Place the frosting in the center of the cake and smooth it over the cake with an offset spatula, creating waves.
- If desired top with chopped pecans.
Notes
Cream Cheese Frosting:
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I am officially obsessed with this carrot cake (I’ve made it many times and now is requested by family). It’s got a great texture and isn’t overly sweet. Looking forward to trying it with the homemade fluff!
What adjustment do I need to make this in cupcake form? Fill up tins 1/2 way?
Hi Tina. Bake the cupcakes for 18-20 minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick, and make sure the cake lightly springs back. Fill the tins 3/4 of the way up. Let us know how it goes for you! – Kelli
OMG this cake is EPIC!!! I make carrot cake every single year for Easter and my dads birthday. I’ve made various paleo/gluten free/healthier cakes for years but Lexi’s blows them out of the water. I followed the recipe as written and it is beyond delicious. It is insanely moist, has a perfect balance of sweetness (I hate when carrot cake is sickly sweet!), and my picky family had NO idea it was grain free!!!!! I’ll never make another carrot cake again!
This made my entire day 🙂
I’m making the half size cake today and noticed the cinnamon and ginger aren’t listed in that recipe. Just thought you might want to update that version! 🙂
Hi Kari! Thanks for catching that. We updated the half to include the spice. Enjoy!
Sooo good! I used the recipe to make cupcakes for Easter and they were a hit. I didn’t add extra coconut but still got a batter with coconut flavor from the coconut flour. The cake chilled overnight and was super moist the next day. Delicious!
This says dairy free but has cream cheese and butter in frosting? how can you make it truly dairy-free?
Hi Darby! The carrot cake is dairy-free! We suggested using our paleo marshmallow fluff to ice the cake if dairy-free 🙂
5 cups powdered sugar in the frosting?!?
I like crushed pineapple in my carrot cake. If I add 1/2 cup, would I need to increase the flours? Or would you recommend no pineapple? Thank you!
Hi Rhonda! We didn’t test with pineapple. I suspect it would add a lot of moisture but perhaps if you drained the pineapple really well? Let us know how it goes!
I made the half batch tonight and it’s so moist and delicious!! Left out the raisins but did everything else exactly and BAM…delicious carrot cake! Thank you so much to you and your team for this wonderful recipe!!
It really is the best carrot cake ever! I served this at a gathering I had this weekend and everyone loved it!
SO happy!!!
How long would you recommend baking if doing cupcakes?
Start checking at 20 minutes! Look for the same indication of doneness as suggested in the post. Let us know how it turns out!
Can I dive head first into that icing, please?!
What can I substitute Avocado oil for? We have allergies in our family
Any oil!
Looks great! I noticed both the full and half batch call for 1/2 cup coconut flour; should it be 1/4 cup for the half batch? Thanks!
Hi Kimber! Thanks for catching that. The grams were correct, but the volume measurement wasn’t updated. It’s the correct amount now: 1 cup for the full sheet cake and half cup for the half batch.
I used vegan yoghurt instead of eggs. Came out fluffy and delicious! (:
Absolutely delicious! You’d never guess it’s gluten free. Would be perfect for Easter!
So glad you loved it Holly! You made the 1/2 batch, right?
Any other gluten free besides coconut and almond flours ?
We linked to a nut-free cake in the post!
Are you using unsweetened coconut as the option?
Yes.
If I use honey instead of sugar, how much should I up my flours?
We don’t recommend altering it that way — it’ll totally change the recipe, to one we haven’t tried, so can’t say for sure the changes. They’d be substantial changes all around.
I am assuming it’s 3 cups of grated carrots? This looks delicious!!
HI Krista! Of course. Thanks for the catch, it’s been updated! 🙂