Grain-Free Raisin Carrot Cake with Cinnamon Glaze
Makes one 9-inch square cake
To celebrate the good news of Easter I’m baking this gluten-free, grain-free, dairy-free, and gum-free raisin carrot cake. Like my Black Bean Chocolate Cake, this cake is made from cooked beans rather than from flours. The naturally sweet pinto bean is actually undetectable in this light, moist cake!
sunflower oil
1 cup raisins
1 ½ cups cooked, drained pinto beans
1 cup whole cane, date, or coconut palm sugar
¾ cup extra-virgin coconut oil, at room temperature (about 72 degrees F)
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon unrefined sea salt, finely ground
1 ½ cups grated carrots, about 2 large
2/3 cup cinnamon glaze
Center the oven rack. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9–inch square baking pan by lining the bottom with parchment paper. Generously oil the sides of the cake pan. Place the raisins in a small bowl. Add enough warm (about 100 degrees F) water to cover them by one inch.
Assemble the bowl of a food processor with the metal blade. Add the cooked beans, sugar, coconut oil, and eggs. Process until a smooth batter forms, about 1 minute. Add the cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Process until the powders become fully incorporated into the batter, about 1 more minute. Drain the water from the raisins. Add the drained raisins and the grated carrots to the batter. Pulse just until the raisins and carrots are distributed evenly throughout the batter, about 2-3 times. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 50-55 minutes.
Remove from the oven and cool on a rack. Use a knife to loosen the cake from the edges of the pan. Invert a serving platter on top of the cake pan. Quickly flip the cake and pan over onto the serving platter. Lift off the pan. Discard the parchment paper on top of the cake. Spoon the glaze over the top of the cake just before serving
Cinnamon Glaze
Makes 2/3 cup
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4-5 tablespoon coconut milk
In a medium bowl combine confectioners sugar and cinnamon. Use a whisk to mix until the cinnamon is evenly distributed. Add 4 tablespoons of the coconut milk. Whisk until combined. The glaze should be thin enough to spoon over the cake. If necessary, thin the gaze with one additional tablespoon of coconut milk.
This post was shared at Simply Sugar & Gluten Free’s Slightly Indulgent Tuesday , at Real Food Forager’s Fat Tuesday, at Kelly the Kitchen Kop’s Real Food Wednesday, and at The Nourishing Gourmet’s Pennywise Platter Thursday blog carnivals.
That looks absolutely delicious – I can’t wait to try it!
Thanks! I wanted to say “it’s really good” in the recipe, but that would get repetitive after a while!
Best-
Dori
WOW! I was a little skeptical about this cake, and it was a little extra work, but SO WORTH IT! The BEST gluten free baked treat I have ever consumed, hands down! Absolutely delicious! I decided to serve mine with cream cheese frosting. Not only was it just as good as any gluten and grain filled carrot cake, I think it was better. Thanks for a great recipe!
Hi Sara,
I’m so glad you tried the cake, even-though you were skeptical! Thank you for the kind words – I truly appreciate them!
Best wishes,
Dori