Easy Gluten-free Carrot Cake

Easy Gluten-free Carrot Cake

from mygluten-freekitchen.com
Cakes
90 min

Follow this recipe to make a flavorful, classic, moist gluten-free carrot cake topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect gluten-free Easter dessert! Feel free to add your favorite mix-ins like raisins, coconut or nuts, to this classic moist gluten-free carrot cake.

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cupsall-purpose gluten-free flour
  • ¾ tsp.xanthan gum (*see note)
  • 1 ¼ tsp.baking powder
  • 1 tsp.baking soda
  • 2 tsp.ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp.ground nutmeg
  • ⅛ tsp.ground cloves
  • ¼ tsp.ground allspice
  • ½ tsp.salt
  • 1 ¼ cupssugar
  • ¾ cupbrown sugar
  • 4 largeeggs
  • ⅓ cupunsweetened applesauce
  • ⅝ cupcanola or vegetable oil or melted coconut oil
  • ½ cupmelted unsalted butter (or oil)
  • 3 cupsfinely shredded carrots (from about 1 lb. carrots)
  • 8 ouncescream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 5 tbsp.butter, softened to room temperature
  • 2 ½ cupspowdered sugar
  • 2 tbsp.heavy cream or half and half
  • 2 tsp.pure vanilla extract

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 350°. Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray. I used a glass Pyrex pan.

  2. 2

    In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, xanthan gum, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, and salt. Set aside.

  3. 3

    In the bowl of your standing mixer, beat sugar, brown sugar and eggs on medium-high speed until thoroughly combined, about 45 seconds.

  4. 4

    Reduce speed to low, and slowly add the applesauce, oil, and melted butter. Mix on high for one minute, or until mixture is well mixed and light in color.

  5. 5

    Turn off mixer and stir in by hand the carrots and dry ingredients until no loose flour remains.

  6. 6

    Pour into greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. (Mine took 37 minutes.)

  7. 7

    Let cake cool, in pan, on a wire rack.

  8. 8

    In a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to beat the softened cream cheese and butter for 3 minutes, or until soft, creamy and combined thoroughly.

  9. 9

    Add 2 cups of powdered sugar and beat until well mixed.

  10. 10

    Add the heavy cream or half and half, and pure vanilla extract. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes.

  11. 11

    Add an additional 1/2 to 1 cup of powdered sugar until frosting reaches desired thickness and taste.

  12. 12

    Use a spatula or icing knife to spread frosting evenly over cooled cake. Slice into 15 large slices, or you can cut smaller slices if you prefer.