It’s been a while since I posted a recipe for cake. The truth is, the overload of frostings, fondants, and other forms of “perfect” cakes (let’s not even get started on cupcakes) have absolutely turned me off. I don’t like a cake (or anything edible, for that matter) that does not allow a natural ingredient to shine. I hate biting into a cake and then getting thoroughly disappointed at its lack of cake-ness. All I can taste is refined sugar, artificial flavouring, and an aftertaste of synthetic colour.
I woke up this morning with an intense craving for carrot cake. Only, I didn’t want it to be a celebration cake–I didn’t want it too sweet or slathered with indulgent cream cheese frosting. I just wanted a simple, toothsome, flavoursome cake that would go with coffee . So here it is, a deliciously dense, honestly flavoured carrot cake that works as a treat for diabetics and as an everyday coffee accompaniment. Skip the marmalade if you want to go completely sugar-free or use an artificial sweetener of your choice.
Diabetic-friendly Carrot Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 large carrot, peeled and grated
- Grated zest of one orange
- Juice of one orange
- 6 tablespoons rice bran or other other vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon orange marmalade
- 1 teaspoon grated jaggery or coconut/raw sugar (optional)
- 1 handful of chopped walnuts
- 1 small handful of raisins
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground cinnamon
- 1 cup wholewheat flour (I use a flour that has a good percentage of bran; you can add a tablespoonful of bran extra if yours is too fine)
- 1/2 cup ground almonds
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
Method:
- Preheat the oven to 150 degrees centigrade.
- In a mixing bowl, place the grated carrots, orange zest, orange juice, oil, eggs, marmalade, jaggery (if using), cinnamon powder, raisins, and walnuts. Beat lightly using a spatula until well combined.
- Tip in the almond flour, wholewheat flour, and baking powder. Fold gently. Add a splash of milk or juice to achieve a batter-like consistency, a tad thicker than a standard cake batter.
- Pour into a greased and lined baking pan (I used a 7 inch square tin) and smooth the top.
- Bake for 35-45 minutes until golden brown on top and when a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Serve with tea.
Note: A sprinkling of icing sugar or a light smear of marmalade or cream cheese/hung yogurt infused with a little orange zest would be great for a special occasion.
Ive become a cake snob of sorts, in that I want to turn my eyes away from the fancy fondant sugar craft I see everywhere. Its like good old non-celebratory cake has died a sad death. Its what made me start selling what I call “every day cakes” just the kind of cake you have here 🙂 Cheers to simple cakes!
Totally agree. I detest over decorated, cloyingly sweet fondant clad, mediocre tasting cakes. Rustic, unfinished homely cakes are the best. This carrot cake looks divine, want to dive into the screen with a cup of coffee 🙂
Nice recipe. Can you please give me the measurement of yoghurt if I use it as an egg substitute? BTW your 10 min Rasmalai was awesome!!