Homestyle Lowfat Carrot Cake

I created this cake for Colin's birthday this year, not knowing (after all these years!) that he doesn't really care for carrot cake. Luckily, he loved it and when I told him it was lowfat, he was happily surprised. The fat in this recipe comes from the eggs in the cake and the oil used for greasing the pan. And of course, the icing. I enjoy the fact that it's lowfat, but like the ease of the preparation even more. The cake is heavenly scented with homey spices and topped with a creamy icing that just melts in your mouth.

Ingredients

• 3 cups shredded carrots
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup non-fat milk
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

	Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9'x9" square baking pan. Set aside. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Beat at low speed for about 30 seconds to combine all ingredients. Turn mixer to high and continue to beat for about one minute until mixture is combined really well. Pour batter into baking pan and cook for 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. (the cake will be really dark brown). Remove from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool. While it cools, prepare the icing.
	Icing: 2 ounces lowfat cream cheese, at room temperature 2 tablespoons butter, at room temperature 1 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 tablespoon nonfat milk Beat cream cheese and butter together until smooth and blended. Add sugar, vanilla, and milk and beat well until completely smooth and all ingredients are incorporated. (I call this an icing because it isn't firm like frosting, rather, it's quite creamy and icing-like). Spoon icing onto the cake in the pan (iced in the pan is what makes it homestyle) and spread with the back of the spoon.
	Then just slice and serve.

Note

Tips: Rather than oiling and flouring the baking pan, I use a baking spray that is oil and flour combined, so all I have to do is spray it on and I'm done. Baking sprays can be found on the shelves of the baking aisle in grocery stores, most often with the oil.

*Post Edit* Baking the cake in a 9"x9" pan will result in a cake that is a little more on the dense side. If you prefer it to be less dense, bake in a 9"x13" pan for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Notes:

I love homestyle cakes because there's no pressure on making them perfect and there's a sort of comfort in that. Let's just relax and eat cake.

Frosting a cake "homestyle" decreases the amount of frosting used, as there's none going on the sides.

The scent of this cake makes a happy home. I'm not kidding, just bake it up and the scent will make everyone smile.

 

*    *    *    *

Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

*    *    *    *

Comments

[Cathleen alyce]

I have been trying to find a good carrot cake recipe, like the one I used to make when my kids were young...I lost my recipes in a move. This one is perfect...thank you for sharing it. I am so ready for spring!
Cathleen alyce
VINTAGE HOME lifestyle

[Jennifer Robin]

Yum! I wonder how it would be with some pineapple substituted for a bit of the carrots...:)

[Kristy]

Thanks for the great recipe, Serena! I'm going to make it tonight for dessert. I don't think my husband likes carrot cake either but he'll appreciate that it's healthy. I'm going to add some whole wheat flour to it to make it even more healthy.
Kristy

[Joy Bayer]

Hi Serena,
Sounds like a wonderful cake, I will definitely try it soon. Thanks for the buttons for the sidebar last night. Everyone on this side of the mountain is all a buzz about the show! I haven't ever worried if I was dressed, but sometimes I think,"how did I get here?" hmm, I guess sometimes we just slip into autopilot.
JOY!

[Serena]

Jennifer, the pineapple will make a wonderful addition. Applesauce is really great as well. Happy baking! Serena :)

[Bonnie]

looks wonderful!
I can't see straight... we gave our daughter the option to go to NY or to The Farm Chicks Show (mother-daughter trip) for her college graduation. She picked Spokane. WHOO-HOO, bought plane tickets yesterday, reserved hotel, now I have to twiddle my thumbs and wait! :)

[Vicki Shead]

Okay, it's in the oven! I was looking for a simple, low fat, recipe for my daughter's wedding in Sept. We are doing a dessert table, and the groom says carrot cake is a MUST!

[Anita Cramer]

Even from the first photo of it, I'm sold! I might just make this tonight. Yummmy. Thank you in advance!

[Tanya @ Life in 3D]

Your pics = My mouth watering.

Rarely happens...must be telling me SOMETHING ;)

Can't wait to try it!

[Ada]

exactly what my little pregnant self was craving...and lowfat so the dr won't care either.

Yum!

[Bri]

I am definitely making this! Thank you!!

[Cassandra]

It looks so good Serena! I think I'm gonna try this soon:)

[Laurel]

Thank you Serena! It looks wonderfully tastey! I can't wait to make it myself! :)