The dilemma with gluten free baking is that the consistency
of the baking is often quite dry.
I have been experimenting with a regular carrot cake recipe
and have come up with this solution.
However, not only do I want to be gluten free,
but sugar free too!
I know that honey is technically not sugar free,
but I am not into any sugar substitutes or sweeteners
so organic or anti-bacterial honey is fine for me (in small doses!)
The first time I made this I added Xantham Gum to bind the mixture,
but I forgot it the second time, so I don't think it's an essential ingredient
in this very moist cake!
I have now made it in muffin form and it is very tasty too
even without the cream cheese topping,
I like to bake with what I have on hand.
No cream cheese - no problem!
Anyway, here is the recipe:
CARROT CAKE
Ingredients
·
3Tbsp Honey
·
175ml Olive oil
·
5 medium eggs, lightly beaten
·
140g grated carrots (about 3
medium)
·
grated zest and juice of 1
orange
·
75g Ground Almonds/Almond Flour
·
75g Coconut Flour
·
1.5 Tsp Baking Powder
·
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
·
1 Tsp Xantham Gum
·
1 tsp ground cinnamon
·
½ tsp Mixed Spice or Nutmeg
For the ‘Icing’
·
1 Tbsp Honey
·
1 Tub of Soft Cream Cheese
·
Zest of one Lemon
Method
1.
Preheat the oven to 180C/Gas 4.
Grease and line the base and sides of an
18cm square cake tin with baking parchment.
2.
Lightly mix the honey, olive oil and beaten eggs.
Stir in the grated
carrots, orange zest and orange juice
(sometimes I use Clementines or other
sweet citrus fruit – whatever is in the fruit bowl ;o) )
3.
Sift the flours, bicarbonate of soda, spices and other dry
ingredients,
into the bowl.
Lightly mix
all the ingredients – when everything is evenly amalgamated stop mixing.
The
mixture will be fairly soft and almost runny.
4.
Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and bake for 35- 45 minutes,
until it feels firm and springy when you press it in the centre.
Cool in the
tin for 5 minutes, then turn it out, peel off the paper and cool on a wire rack
5.
Beat together the icing ingredients in a small bowl until smooth.
Set
the cake on a serving plate and ice the cake as desired.
Decorate with Walnuts, Lemon Zest or anything you fancy.
6. Serve and enjoy
7. Let me know if you make it and how you get on xxx
