traditional carrot and walnut cake with cream cheese icing

Carrot cake is one of my dad’s favourite cakes so I’ve eaten my fair share over the years. I have adapted my family recipe here by reducing the refined sugar, adding medjool dates and using gluten free flour. It is simple to make without the need for electric beaters and can also be made in the Thermomix to save time (and dishes).

The cake tastes great warm out the oven however if you want to add a little something extra cream cheese icing is a favourite of mine. I am always disappointed in café bought carrot cake with thick, flavourless white icing. This is enough icing for two cakes (or a batch of red velvet cupcakes) and freezes well.

I always seem to have the majority of ingredients for carrot cake in the pantry and if you have a few overripe bananas then it’s the perfect time to get baking.

ingredients

for the cake

• 2 large carrots (approx 180g)
• 3 medjool dates pitted (approx 40g)
• 3 ripe bananas
• 3 eggs
• 150g oil (I used coconut)
• 375g self raising gluten free flour
• 100g raw sugar
• 90g chopped walnuts

for the icing

• 250g cream cheese
• 205g butter
• 625g pure icing sugar

directions

1. Thinly grate carrots
2. Mash bananas
3. Chop dates
4. Lightly beat eggs
5. Combine all ingredients
6. Pour into a greased spring form cake tin (26cm) or lined square line.
7. Bake for 60 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius

Thermomix directions

1. Place carrots into  TM bowl and mix 5 seconds on speed 7. Remove from bowl.
2. Add bananas and dates to TM bowl and mix for 10 seconds on speed 7.
3. Add eggs and oil, mix for 10 seconds on speed 5.
4. Add remaining ingredients (including walnuts) and mix on reverse for 10 seconds on speed 5.
5. Pour into a greased spring form cake tin (26cm) or lined square line.
6. Bake for 60 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius

Icing directions 

1. Beat together room temperature cream cheese and butter until smooth, slowly add icing sugar one spoon at a time until all incorporated and lump free.
2. Spread onto cool cake and store excess in the freezer.

Enjoy your carrot cake with cream cheese icing!

For more delicious carrot cake inspired recipes check out our carrot cake chia pudding and chocolate carrot cake.