Gluten Free Vegan Spiced Carrot Cake

Total time2 hr 5 min

Prep time25 min

Cook time40 min

This warmly spiced cake gets its cozy flavor from a generous mix of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, plus three full cups of finely grated carrot folded right into the batter for natural sweetness and moisture. A quick flaxseed gel keeps everything bound together and tender, while a touch of apple cider vinegar gives the crumb a nice lift as it bakes. Chopped walnuts add a welcome crunch if you want them, and the whole thing bakes up into an even, springy layer in a classic 9x13 pan. Once it's fully cooled, it gets topped with a rich, fluffy frosting that spreads on smooth and sets up beautifully. It's an easy make-ahead dessert that slices cleanly into 12 generous pieces, and it's a great pick for a gluten free spread.

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Ingredients

12 servings

For the cake

2 tbsp ground flaxseed
Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flaxseed Meal - 16 Oz Carrington Farms Organic Milled Flax Seed Paks Gluten Free Spectrum Essentials Cold Milled Organic Premium Ground Flaxseed - 24 oz Barlean's Organic Forti-Flax Premium Ground Flaxseed Carrington Farms Flax Seeds Milled Gluten Free Organic (Ground)
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6 tbsp water
2 cups all-purpose flour
Chef's tip
Choose a gluten-free baking blend labeled 1:1 or cup-for-cup and use the same amount. Almond and coconut flour won't work the same way.
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
½ tsp ground nutmeg
¼ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp salt
¾ cup organic cane sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
¾ cup neutral oil (such as canola or sunflower)
½ cup plant-based milk
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups finely grated carrots (about 4 medium carrots)
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

For the frosting

8 oz vegan cream cheese, softened
¼ cup vegan butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pinch salt

Instructions

1
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.
2
In a small bowl, stir together the ground flaxseed and 6 tbsp water until combined. Set aside for 5 minutes, until the mixture thickens to a gel-like consistency.

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