• be_ixf; php_sdk; php_sdk_1.4.15
  • 48 ms
  • iy_2023; im_01; id_30; ih_00; imh_58; i_epoch:1675069101159
  • ixf-compiler; ixf-compiler_1.0.0.0
  • py_2023; pm_01; pd_03; ph_23; pmh_26; p_epoch:1672817206907
  • link-block; link-block_link-block; bodystr
  • pn_tstr:Tue Jan 03 23:26:46 PST 2023; pn_epoch:1672817206907
  • 0 ms
  • be_ixf; php_sdk; php_sdk_1.4.15
  • https://sofabfood.com/carrot-cake-cream-cheese-frosting/
  • https://sofabfood.com/carrot-cake-cream-cheese-frosting/
SoFabFood

SoFabFood

From our household to yours, a group of diverse, self-taught home chefs share family-tested unique recipes daily.

  • all recipes
  • dinner
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Low Sodium
    • Beef
    • Chicken
    • Pork
    • Seafood
    • Vegetarian
    • From the Grill
    • Slow Cooker
    • Pizza
    • Side Dish
    • Gluten-Free
    • Paleo
  • lunch
    • Soups
    • Salads
    • Sandwiches
  • breakfast
    • On-the-Go Breakfast
    • Sunday Brunch
  • dessert
    • Cakes
    • Cookie
  • appetizer
  • cocktails
  • drinks

Lighter Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

April 2, 2016 by Sandra Garth 2 Comments

You’ll love this lightened up Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting that uses less sugar than the traditional version, but gets an awesome sweet boost from crushed pineapple, cinnamon, and cardamom.
Lighter Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Baking is my passion, but there comes a time when the jeans start to get a little tight. In order to have my cake and eat it too, I baked a healthier version of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting.

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe uses less sugar than the traditional version, but gets a sweet boost from the crushed pineapple. When cutting back on sugar, I like to add more flavor and did so by adding one teaspoon of cinnamon and half a teaspoon of cardamom. Cardamom smells heavenly and has a slightly exotic taste. Also, I opted for vanilla bean paste which is more concentrated than vanilla extract. Wear your comfy jeans while enjoying a slice of this trimmed down carrot cake!

Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

Lighter Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
 
Save Print
Baking is my passion but there comes a time when the jeans start to get a little tight. In order to have my cake and eat it too, I baked a healthier version of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. This recipe uses less sugar than the traditional version but gets a sweet boost from the crushed pineapple. When cutting back on sugar I like to add more flavor and did so by adding 1 tsp cinnamon and ½ tsp cardamom. Cardamom smells heavenly and has a slightly exotic taste. Also, I opted for vanilla bean paste which is more concentrated than vanilla extract. Wear your comfy jeans while enjoying a slice of this trimmed down carrot cake!
Author: Sandra L. Garth from Sweet Sentations
Recipe type: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Serves: 16
Ingredients
  • For the Cake:
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp baking soda
  • ½ ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cardamom
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 (8-oz.) can crushed pineapple in juice, drained (reserve 1 ½ tsp)
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 egg whites
  • 1 TBS vanilla bean paste
  • 3 cups grated carrots
  • Vegetable cooking spray
  • Cream Cheese Frosting:
  • 1 (8-oz.) package ⅓ less fat cream cheese
  • 2 TBS butter, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp pineapple juice
  • 1 to 2 tsp fat-free milk (optional)
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Combine first 5 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture.
  3. Whisk together pineapple and next 4 ingredients, then add pineapple mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened.
  4. Fold in carrots. Pour batter into a 10-inch square cake pan coated with cooking spray.
  5. Bake at 350°F for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack 10 minutes.
  6. Remove from pan to a wire rack and cool completely (about 1 hour).
  7. For the Frosting
  8. Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.
  9. Gradually add powdered sugar to butter mixture beating at low speed, just until blended.
  10. Beat in 1½ tsp of pineapple juice and add milk if desired.
  11. Place cake layer on a serving plate and spread the top with frosting.
Notes
The cake can also be baked in 2 (8-inch) cake pans, a 9x13 sheet pan or as cupcakes.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 204 Fat: 7.3g Carbohydrates: 31.9g Fiber: 1.9g Cholesterol: 28mg
3.5.3208

We hope you love this Lighter Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting from SoFabFood Contributor, Sandra Garth from Sweet Sensations, as much as we do. If you liked this dessert recipe, be sure to stop by our desserts section for even more like it. For more recipe inspiration, visit us on Pinterest because we have a lot of fantastic dessert recipes there too. Enjoy!

Related posts:

The hardest part about making these Easter Carrot Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting is grating the carrots. After that, it's a simple matter of mixing, baking, and frosting to deliver cupcakes that are Easter worthy!Easter Carrot Cupcakes Recipe Raspberry Jam Meringues - I Say NomatoRaspberry Jam Meringues The PKP Way | A cake for all occasions, this Blackberry Coconut Cake has a dense and moist crumb of blackberries and coconut, is filled with rich coconut buttercream, and frosted with tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for berry and coconut lovers everywhere.Blackberry Coconut Cake Vegan Strawberry Banana Carrot Cake by Heather McCleesVegan Strawberry Banana Carrot Cake These Mini Carrot Cheesecake Trifles are made with delightful layers of carrot cake, no bake cheesecake, toasted pecans, and homemade whipped cream. Simple to make, single-serve portions, and perfect for your Easter gathering!Mini Carrot Cheesecake Trifles These fancy Lemon Soufflé Pudding Cakes are a single-serve dessert that takes less than an hour to make. The perfect date night mini dessert that’s also great for entertaining guests.Lemon Soufflé Pudding Cakes Short on time, but need a dessert with an extra pop of color for an upcoming party? This Magical Rainbow Dessert Trifle is your answer! Simple to make and bursting with the colors of the rainbow, this dessert is sure to be a hit!Magical Rainbow Dessert Trifle Treat yourself with these Gingerbread Cupcakes full of warm spices and molasses, and topped with fluffy Eggnog Frosting. Just the sweet treat you need to get into the holiday spirit!Eggnog Frosting Gingerbread Cupcakes

Filed Under: Cakes, Dessert, Original, Recipes, SoFabFood Contributors Tagged With: cake recipes, carrot cake, carrots, cream cheese frosting, frosting, skinny dessert

« Vanilla Pudding with Surprise Ingredient
Spiralized Sesame Cucumber and Zucchini Bowl »

Comments

  1. Ramona W says

    April 9, 2016 at 6:24 am

    I had to see the recipe.... saving it!! :)
    Reply
    • April Decheine says

      April 9, 2016 at 8:27 am

      Awesome!
      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate this recipe:  

Sandra Garth

SoFabFood

Looking for something else?

  • Home
    • About Us
  • Categories
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Dessert
    • Drinks
    • Sides
  • Outside the Recipe Box
    • Kitchen Hacks
    • Healthy Tips
    • Entertaining
    • DIY Kitchen
  • Holiday
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Fourth of July
    • Father’s Day
    • Mother’s Day
    • Thanksgiving

Keep up with all our Recipes!

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in