Carrot Cake

Carrot cake has a quiet way of surprising people. What starts as a vegetable often associated with soups and salads turns into something soft, spiced, and deeply comforting. It’s a reminder that vegetables don’t belong in one category they can be nourishing, grounding, and celebratory all at once.

Traditionally, carrot cake grew out of practicality. Carrots added moisture, natural sweetness, and substance when ingredients were limited. Over time, it became a favorite not because it was clever, but because it worked. Warm spices, tender crumb, and the gentle sweetness of carrots create a cake that feels familiar and generous.

In the Let’s Veg lifestyle, carrot cake represents balance. It doesn’t hide the vegetable it honors it. It shows that eating more vegetables doesn’t mean giving up joy or comfort. Sometimes, it means discovering that vegetables have been part of our favorite foods all along.

Olivia

Carrot Cake

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Carrot cake is a moist, spiced cake made with grated carrots and simple ingredients for a classic, comforting homemade dessert.

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Servings: 8

Calories: 203

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients

  

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• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg optional
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¾ cup sugar white, brown, or a mix
• ½ cup olive oil or neutral oil
• 2 eggs or flax eggs for plant-based
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Add-Ins
• 2 cups carrots finely grated
• ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional
• ¼ cup raisins optional

Equipment

 Baking Bread Loaf Pan

Method

 

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. Grease a round or square baking pan.
3. Mix Dry Ingredients
4. In a bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, baking powder, spices, and salt.
5. Mix Wet Ingredients
6. In another bowl, whisk sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.
7. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix gently.
8. Fold in grated carrots and optional add-ins.
9. Pour batter into prepared pan.
10. Bake 40-45 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
11. Let cool completely before slicing.
12. Serve plain or with cream cheese frosting if desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 203kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 4gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.3gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.4gTrans Fat: 0.004gCholesterol: 41mgSodium: 240mgPotassium: 185mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 5407IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 55mgIron: 2mg

Notes

Plant-based: use flax eggs and dairy-free frosting

Less sweet: reduce sugar slightly — carrots add natural sweetness

Moist crumb: don’t overmix

Keeps well: stays moist for days and freezes nicely

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