This amazingly flavorful Carrot Cake is healthier than tradition carrot cake recipes and tastes even better without the heavy oilness in most recipes.
Out of the blue J walked out of class one afternoon and immediately asked if we could make carrot cake. I was exhausted, but carrot cake is my favorite so it didn't take much to convince me.
I pulled out a recipe I'd created awhile ago from a combination of recipes so I could update the photos and put it in the new recipe format.
Since it was before Valentine's Day I used a heart shape pan, plus some mini cupcakes to keep me from devouring too much at once. Well, that was the plan.
Everyone loved them, and no one noticed that these have far less oil and added sugar than most carrot cake recipes. I actually like it better than many heavier carrot cake recipes.
But the absolute best part of this recipe is the Pineapple Cream Cheese Icing.
Seriously, I could eat it straight. I didn't, of course.
I mean if there happened to be a little bit extra I might have spread some on some crackers, but its not like I stuck my finger in the container and ate it like that.
At least not in front of witnesses.
Light Carrot Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Icing
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cup flour
- 1 ¼ cup sugar
- ½ cup sweetened flake coconut
- ⅓ cup pecans (finely chopped - extra for decoration if desired)
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons canola oil
- ½ cup egg substitute or egg whites
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 1 ½ cup canned crushed pineapple (drained with juice reserved for icing)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 oz reduced fat cream cheese
- 3 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 13 x 9 pan or line 24 cupcake tins.
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, coconut, pecans, soda, salt and cinnamon with a wire whisk.
- In a separate bowl combine oil and egg substitute/whites. Stir egg mixture, carrots, and pineapple into flour mixture.
- Put in prepared pan or cupcake tins. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean (approximately 20 minutes for cup cakes, 30 minutes for cake). Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Combine butter and cream cheese with a mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add powdered sugar and a teaspoon of pineapple juice. Add additional pineapple juice as needed.
- Spread frosting on the cake. Top with chopped nuts if desired.
Until next time, happy eating.
~Audrey
Lou Lou Girls
Hello Gorgeous! I always love coming to your party. Thank you for hosting. We would love it if you would stop by our party. That would be amazing! Happy Tuesday! Lou Lou Girls
Kara
Sounds delicious! I also love that there's no raisins in it! Hate biting into carrot cake expecting to hit nuts only to realize they are raisins ><
Simple Hacks Living
A great spring recipe!
Heaven
I love carrot cake! Pinned and following on G+. I'm glad I found your party in time to link up. I'm 70, 71, and 72.
Jennifer Abel
I love carrot cake, thanks for your link up and thank you for sharing your post on #mum-bomonday have a great week
Winnie
I really liike this carrot cake 🙂 Lucky me my family loves carrot cake, so I just might try this recipe (especially when I hove tons of egg-whites in the freezer)
[email protected] Evolution of Mom
I'm going to have to try this. Carrot cake is my absolute favorite, but the calories!!! This looks so good!
Thanks for sharing on Momma Told Me!
~Jen
Sydney @ Tastefully Frugal
My dad loves carrot cake and I am always looking for new ways to change it up. This one looks really good. Thanks for linking up with us at Talented Tuesdays. I hope you join us again this morning.
Lorelai @ Life With Lorelai
I bet Rory would LOVE this! She is all over anything that is pineapple and cream cheese. 🙂 Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty - we hope to see you again on Friday. 🙂
~Lorelai
Life With Lorelai
Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution
Congratulations! You've been featured over on The Jenny Evolution's Friday Flash Blog linky party. Be sure to grab some swag for your post that says you’ve been featured. You can get it here — http://www.thejennyevolution.com/grab-button/
Jennifer @ The Jenny Evolution