This is truly the best vegan carrot cake and it just so happens to be gluten-free! Made with oat flour and topped with an incredible cashew cream cheese, this vegan carrot cake is healthier but you’d never know. It’s also easy to make!
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This gluten-free vegan carrot cake recipe has been updated on April 18th, 2022 to include detailed process photos and an improved cake formula and instructions.
Why you’ll love this vegan carrot cake
It’s vegan, gluten free, refined sugar free, AND oil free. But trust me, you wouldn’t know it!
You know I am passionate about making delicious treats out of healthy ingredients. Just check out the other goodies on this site.
I love making favorite recipes using whole food ingredients when possible without compromising taste—and today I’ve done just that!
For this vegan carrot cake I used rolled oats instead of flour which provides us with extra fiber and nutrients. I love using rolled oats as an easy gluten-free flour substitute like in these Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes.
This cake is also refined sugar free. Instead of sugar it is sweetened with dates—nature’s candy! They provide the perfect amount of sweetness, making this carrot cake healthier and nutritious.
I also made a delicious Creamy Cashew Frosting to go on top. It’s very simple to make and only requires 4 ingredients! Because what is carrot cake without a cream “cheese” frosting?!
And it’s a lot easier to share a yummy piece of vegan carrot cake with those new to the diet who may be skeptical of it. So go on and whip up this cake for your friends and fam (and of course yourself too!).
Ingredient notes
This recipe is the epitome of guilt-free with only wholesome ingredients used. That’s what makes this recipe a no-brainer to make this spring. There is absolutely no downside to this cake!
Here’s what you’ll need for the gluten free carrot cake:
- dates—the natural sweetener! I’ve used both the large Medjool dates and the smaller Deglet Noor dates. Both work great! I recommend weighing your ingredients with a kitchen scale for accurate measurements.
- rolled oats—makes this recipe gluten-free, no need for flour!
- baking powder + baking soda
- spices including: ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cloves and salt
- carrots
- unsweetened non-dairy milk—I used almond milk but any unsweetened milk will work
- applesauce—this is what makes this recipe eggless (see more ways to bake egg-free)
- pure vanilla extract
- chopped pecans—for an optional topping, you can also use chopped walnuts or simply omit
Ingredients for the dairy-free cashew cream cheese frosting:
- raw cashews—make sure to soak them if you don’t have a high-speed blender
- canned coconut milk (can also use any unsweetened non-dairy milk, but it will be less creamy)
- pure maple syrup
- pure vanilla extract
How to make
This step-by-step walkthrough shows the process of making this gluten-free vegan carrot cake. For exact times and temperatures, reference the recipe card below.
1. Remove the pits from the dates and soak in hot water for 15 minutes to soften.
2. Meanwhile, blend the oats in the blender until a powder forms. You want the consistency to be as close to flour as possible. This can take several minutes.
3. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Create a well in the center for the liquid ingredients.
4. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper (or grease).
If you’re going for the traditional layered carrot cake you can double the recipe and cook two layers with frosting in between. I recommend not frosting the cake until just before serving.
5. Next, add the carrots to the blender and blend until finely chopped or grated consistency. Alternatively use a grater or the grating setting on a food processor. Remove and set aside.
6. Drain the dates then add them to the blender along with the milk, applesauce, and vanilla. Blend until smooth. Then add it to the oat mixture and stir until just combined. Do not over mix the batter or you will end up with a gooey cake. Fold in the carrots, and pecans (if using).
7. Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing and place on a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
8. While the cake is cooling, prepare the Cashew Cream Frosting by adding all of the ingredients to a high-speed blender and processing until smooth.
9. Frost the cake and top with additional pecans if desired. Cut into 16 pieces and serve. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
Make sure when grinding the oats into a powder that you reach as close to flour-like consistency as possible. It can take 5 minutes or more. Feel free to use pre-made oat flour or all-purpose gluten-free flour instead.
Make sure not to over mix the batter. Stir until everything is just combined.
You can serve this carrot cake as a layered cake by doubling the recipe and cooking two cake rounds with frosting in between the layers. Or cut into squares as pictured for an easy and quick way to serve a group.
More Gluten Free Vegan Desserts
This gluten-free vegan carrot cake is perfect for Spring and Summer, especially Easter gatherings but also for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day. It makes a great brunch dessert or baby shower dessert too!
To make it even more festive for Easter, top it with these vegan chocolate eggs (chocolate peanut butter dates)!
This cake is definitely a crowd-pleaser and sure to be the star of the dessert table! Love carrot cake as much as me? Try these adorable carrot cake cookies next!
If you make this recipe and decide to share it on Facebook or Instagram, don’t forget to tag me @HealthMyLifestyle + #HealthMyLifestyle so I can see your recreation! 🙂
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Vegan Carrot Cake (Gluten-Free)
Method
- oven
- Blender
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients:
- 1 ¾ cups rolled oats or 1 1/4 cup oat flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp ground nutmeg
- pinch of ground cloves
- ¼ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
- 1 cup dates pitted
- 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk I used almond milk
- ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups shredded carrots about 2 large carrots
- ½ cup chopped pecans optional, plus more for topping
For cashew cream frosting:
- 2 cups raw cashews soaked in hot water for 15-30 minutes
- ⅓ cup canned coconut milk or 1/4 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk of choice
- ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Remove the pits from the dates and soak in hot water for 15 minutes.1 cup dates
- Meanwhile, blend the oats in a food processor or blender until a powder forms. This can take 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, and salt. Create a well in the center to prepare for the wet ingredients.1 3/4 cups rolled oats, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp ground ginger, 1 tsp ground nutmeg, pinch of ground cloves, 1/4 tsp salt
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Line a 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper (or grease).
- Next, add the carrots to the blender and blend until finely chopped or grated consistency. Alternatively use a grater or the grating setting on a food processor. Remove and set aside.1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
- Drain the dates then add them to the blender along with the milk, applesauce, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla. Blend until smooth. Then add it to the oat mixture and fold in until just combined. Careful not to overmix or you'll end up with a gooey cake. Gently fold in the carrots and pecans (if using) to evenly distribute without mixing the batter too much.1 cup dates, 1 cup unsweetened non-dairy milk, ½ cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots, ½ cup chopped pecans
- Spread the batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake on the center rack for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the cake for wet batter. It may transfer some of the spices onto the toothpick but you don't want wet batter. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing and place on a wire rack to cool completely before decorating.
- Prepare the Cashew Cream Frosting by adding all of the ingredients to a high-speed blender and processing until smooth.2 cups raw cashews, 1/3 cup canned coconut milk, 1/3 cup pure maple syrup, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, pinch of salt
- Frost the cake and top with additional pecans if desired. Cut into 16 pieces and serve. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This gluten-free vegan carrot cake recipe has been updated on April 18th, 2022 to include detailed process photos and an improved cake formula and instructions.
Thanks for the recipe. The flavour is delicious. Sorry to say I also found it wet/gooey. I was wondering if it needs flax/chia to bind it….or less fluid. The dates were really wet after soaking them so I’ll miss this out next time….use a binder and use less fluid. And I was wondering what the banana does in the recipe? Was thinking of leaving it out next time too….Thanks for sharing as it is a really fab flavour and I appreciate it’s posted for free online.
Hi Julia, thanks for your feedback! The banana is the binder but you could use flax or chia instead. Based on the reviews, I have reformulated the cake recipe to use less liquid and include and an additional leavener for better, more consistent results. I hope you’ll give it a try again and enjoy this new and improved formula!
It never cooked, it was always gooey no matter how many times I threw it back into the stove. Maybe I don’t grind the oats down enough, but very disappointing.
Hi Tanya, I’m so sorry to hear it didn’t turn out for you! Were the oats a flour-like consistency when you ground them?
The cake was gooey and didn’t bake how much ever time i put it for baking. I used readily available flour. Proportion are not correct i believe. Everyone, pls do not try this recipe if you don’t want to waste ur ingredients.
Hi Vidya, can you explain what you mean but readily available flour? This recipe was specifically tested with homemade oat flour using rolled oats. What type and how much flour did you use? I’d love to help you troubleshoot what went wrong, but unfortunately I cannot guarantee results when one strays from the recipe.