Vegetarian Vegan Spiced Carrot Cake

Total time2 hr 5 min

Prep time25 min

Cook time40 min

This warmly spiced cake is packed with finely grated carrots and a cozy blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, giving it that classic bakery-style flavor in every forkful. The batter comes together with flaxseed and plant-based milk, folded gently to keep the crumb soft and moist, then studded with chopped walnuts for a little crunch if you like the extra texture. Once baked to a springy, golden top, the whole thing gets a generous layer of tangy, fluffy frosting swirled on with a hand mixer until smooth and light. It slices into neat squares perfect for sharing, and it's an easy, crowd-pleasing dessert to bring to potlucks or holiday tables. Since every component here is plant-based from the start, it's a naturally solid pick for a vegetarian spread, no meat or animal byproducts anywhere in sight.

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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
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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