No-added Sugar Carrot Cake Recipe
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Sugar Free Carrot Cake Recipe?
Many people search the internet for sugar-free carrot cake, bu this is impossible to make since carrots naturally contain a small quantity of sugar! However, it is possible to make a cake that contains no added refined sugar.
Our bodies do need some sugar for energy but we can get this from natural unrefined sources, and don't need refined sugars. Many sugar-free carrot recipes use artificial sweeteners instead, but these have potentially serious side effects and even some "natural" sweeteners such as Stevia or xylitol have been heavily processed.
I prefer foods as close to their natural state as possible, so this cake is sweetened with pureed dates. Date puree is easy to make and is high in fiber and nutrients so makes a great alternative to sugar. Although dates are sweet, several studies such as this one in the Nutrition Journal, suggest they are safe for diabetics.
If you are following the FODMAP diet, dates aren't a suitable sugar substitute, an alternative would be maple syrup, which should be used in small quantities because although it contains antioxidants and minerals it is still high in natural sugars.

Why Make a Sugar-Free Cake?
There is some evidence that excessive sugar consumption could contribute to high levels of unhealthy blood fats and lower levels of HDL (the good cholesterol.) High sugar consumption can increase the risk of contracting type 2 diabetes and can suppress the immune system.
Consuming refined sugar causes blood sugar levels to rise rapidly, and the body then produces more insulin to compensate. This then creates an drop in blood sugar. This seesaw effect creates energy slumps and can cause headaches. Often people eat refined sugar along with other refined carbohydrates such as white flour or white pasta. These have the same effect as refined sugar so adding to the seesaw effect.
On the other hand, eating complex carbohydrates creates more sustained energy. The cake in this recipe is made with wholemeal flour, which along with other ingredients, provides a steady release of energy.
Sugar-Free Cream Cheese Frosting

Icing a Sugar-free Cake
The most challenging part of making a sugar-free cake is finding a way to make an icing or frosting. Luckily, carrot cake traditionally comes topped with soft cheese and on its own this makes an acceptable topping. You can use a low-fat variety if keeping fat levels low is important.
Natural Topping Sweeteners
To make the topping more frosting-like you can a small amount of a natural sweetener. It’s best to experiment a bit to see which you prefer. I like to use either baobab or lacuma powders. These are a low-glycemic powders made from the fruit of the African baobab tree or the South America lacuma tree. Both have many health benefits. The drawback with baobab in particular is that it is not always readily available and is fairly expensive. However, both powders last a long time because you only need a small quantity.
One advantage to using a powder is that this keeps the topping firm. With the other suggested sweeteners the cream cheese topping can sometimes become a little runny, so it’s best to make the it in advance and let it firm up in the fridge.
Other natural sweeteners you could use are: vanilla extract, applesauce or honey. (Recent studies suggest small quantities of honey do not raise blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetes.)
Another option is to make some extra date puree and use that in the frosting. This will probably not be as smooth as the other options, but will taste just as good!
Cook Time
No-Added Sugar Carrot Cake Ingredients
- 190 grams/6oz dates/1 cup
- 250gram/9 oz/1 ½ cups flour (wholemeal or spelt, unsifted volume)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 240ml/8 fluid oz/1 cup sunflower oil (corn oil is suitable substitute)
- 3 large eggs
- 340grams/12 oz/2 cups carrots (the cup measure is for carrots that have been grated or shredded in a food processor and is the volume when packed)
Optional Ingredients
- 120 grams/4 oz/1 cup chopped walnuts (it’s also nice with some ground almonds, as much or little as you fancy)
- Whole walnuts to decorate
Topping Ingredients
- 1 x 225 gram/8 oz pack of cream cheese, any variety. (Mascarpone cheese is also good, though pricey so best kept for special occasions.)
Any ONE of the following:
- 1 tablespoon boabab or lacuma powder
- 1 tablespoon finely pureed dates (just add an extra 4 dates when preparing those for the cake and reserve one tablespoon for the topping.)
- 1 dessert spoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon of applesauce
Instructions
Oven temperature: 180°C/160°Fan oven/350°F/Gas mark 4.
1) Cover dates in water, and boil while you get on with the rest of cake.
(Alternately you can cover them with boiling water and leave to soak for several hours until soft.)








2) Grease an 8 inch/20 cm cake tin, and line with baking parchment, making it higher than the sides of the tin. (This helps prevent the cake burning on top.)
3) In a large bowl sift together flour, salt, baking powder, soda and cinnamon. Add nuts if you are using them.
4) Beat the eggs (this is easiest with an electric beater, but a whisk will do.)
5) Grate the carrots.
6) The dates should be ready now, so remove them from the heat and puree till smooth.
7) Add all wet ingredients - the carrots, eggs, oil and dates - to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly.
8) Pour into the baking tin and bake for 45 - 55 minutes. To check it is ready, insert a skewer into the middle of the cake. If it comes out clean the cake is ready; if the skewer has cake mixture sticking to it, it needs to cook for longer.
Tip: all ovens vary in how fast they cook, so it’s best to check the cake after the shorter time and leave in for longer if necessary. Do this quickly so the oven doesn’t cool.
9) Leave the cake to cool for around 5 minutes and then turn onto a wire tray. Leave it to cool completely before adding the topping.


To Make the Topping
- Beat the cream cheese till smooth.
- If using sweetener, add it to the cheese and beat till thoroughly mixed in.
- Spread on the cake. (It will not to completely smooth.)
- Decorate with walnuts if you are using them.
Approximate values per 100 gram slice (makes 12 slices.)
Nutrition Facts | |
---|---|
Serving size: 100 | |
Calories | 347 |
Calories from Fat | 225 |
% Daily Value * | |
Fat 25 g | 38% |
Saturated fat 6 g | 30% |
Carbohydrates 28 g | 9% |
Sugar 11 g | |
Fiber 4 g | 16% |
Protein 6 g | 12% |
Cholesterol 63 mg | 21% |
Sodium 185 mg | 8% |
* The Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet, so your values may change depending on your calorie needs. The values here may not be 100% accurate because the recipes have not been professionally evaluated nor have they been evaluated by the U.S. FDA. |
Oil-Free Variation
if you want a low fat cake, you can simply omit the oil. We discovered this by accident when my daughter made the cake and forgot to add oil. The texture is more sponge-like, and it won't keep quite so long, but it tastes just fine.

Questions & Answers
Comments
Curious if you cooked and then pureed chopped oat covered dates, or whole dates?
Also, has anyone tried using coconut or brown rice flour? Any gluten free flour suggestions??
This is the best cake I have eaten I just love it, and I left off the icing. My girlfriend loved the icing. the perfect cake
I wonder if stevia might work as a sweetener for the frosting? I'm quite partial to a slice of carrot cake but try to avoid too much sugar, so may attempt this recipe.
I won't lie... I was afraid of trying it because many recipes I've found online haven't worked before.
But this, trust me, has been the best carrot cake I have ever had! I am really happy because my father is diabetic and now we'll have a great dessert to share. Finding good sugar-free desserts in my homecountry (Colombia) is difficult.
Thank you for posting this delish recipe!
Yummy cake, made it for my daughter's first birthday. She loved it and us too!
I love to bake and stopped since my family and I are limiting our sugar intake. This recipe looks promising, however, the measurement for salt is not listed under the ingredients.
Ive tried a sugar free carrot cake before and it was a disaster. Pleased to say that your recipe is brilliant and produced a fabulous cake! My friends all loved it and wouldn't have guessed it didn't have added sugar. Thank you!
Great hub!
I like the idea of using dates as a sweetener. Sounds great.
I love carrot cake and this sounds delish! I shared and pinned for future reference.
Ah Ha! Sweetened with pureed dates ! How clever! I might try this as a loaf cake with no icing! Thanks!
An engaging recipe! I admire your novel idea of using pureed dates as a healthy substitute for refined sugar. Easy-to-follow instructions and drool-worthy photos make me want to give it a try. Well-done!
Thanks for SHARING. Useful, Awesome & Interesting. Voted up, pinned & shared
A little less sugar in our lives is a good thing! This looks amazing. I will definitely have to try this. Thanks for sharing.
Who knew that you could make a delicious carrot cake recipe that is also sugar free? Thanks for the great recipe!
Mmmmm - I need this recipe! I can indulge in sweets more than I should, so it is wonderful to know how to make a delicious dessert with no extra sugar!
This sounds interesting Melovy. I have made dates and carrot cake in the past, where I chopped off dates finely and added to the cake mixture. That cake still required extra sugar. I like it's taste and it is healthy compared to other cakes.
This one with pureed dates sounds interesting, will definitely give it a try when I next bake one. Thank you for sharing this.
Votes up, pinning and sharing!
That sounds like a yummy and fairly guilt free treat. I will try it!
carrot cake and no sugar...wow this is like a half n half cream topping on top..loved the recipe, Melovy.
Thanks!
I love carrot cake...having some this weekend and really looking forward to it!
A wonderful recipe which I vote up and save ;have a great day.
Eddy.
no sugar carrot cake..hmm gotta try it gave it a five star :)
I love carrot cake. Especially the frosting. This sounds like a healthy winner for the Easter holiday and the spring season.
I love carrot cake....the messier the better. :) No sugar? I'm willing to try anything once. Thanks for the recipe, Yvonne!
I have started to cut down on sugar intake and this recipe will work great for my family. We love carrot cake and I haven't made one recently..... Thanks for sharing. Voting up and useful....
This looks great especially since I'm trying to diet. Do you think I could use almond or brown rice flour?
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