This keto-friendly carrot cake recipe is perfect for an after-dinner dessert or a sweet mid-day snack. It is a delicious gluten-free and low-carb cake that is made with almond flour, stevia, warm autumn spices, carrots, walnuts, and a cream cheese frosting. It's so easy to make and perfect for using the fresh in-season carrots this time of year.
The best part about this Low-Carb Carrot Cake recipe is that it's gluten-free, grain-free, and sugar-free. It uses only natural sweeteners like stevia which means no processed ingredients or white sugars.
If you're looking for a keto-friendly dessert that will satisfy your sweet tooth and keep your diet on track, give this low-carb carrot cake recipe a try. It's easy to make with just a few ingredients and it tastes great too!
This is the perfect dessert when you want something indulgent but don't want to ruin your strict keto eating plan. Add in some of the variations like fruit or nuts if you want more flavor options - either way it's sure to please all palates.
The icing is amazing and easy to make - simply add softened butter, cream cheese (at room temperature), stevia, and vanilla extract to a mixer and combine it until it's smooth. It's decadent and delicious!
Total Time
- Preparation time: 25 minutes
- Baking time: 45 minutes
- Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Ingredients
- Eggs
- Stevia or erythritol
- Butter
- Almond flour
- Vanilla extract
- Baking powder
- Nutmeg
- Ginger
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Shredded carrots
- Walnuts
For cream cheese frosting:
- Cream cheese
- Butter
- Stevia or erythritol
- Vanilla extract
- Sour cream
How to make keto carrot cake
- Preheat the oven.
- Mix all the dry ingredients.
- In another bowl whisk liquid ingredients and stevia.
- Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix well.
- Add shredded carrots and half the walnuts.
- Distribute the cake batter into two pans.
- Bake.
- Prepare the frosting.
- Remove the cake layers from the oven and let them cool for at least 1 hour.
- Layer and frost the cake, decorate with remaining walnuts. Place the cake in the fridge for 30-40 minutes. Enjoy!
How to make cream cheese frosting
The cream cheese frosting is arguably the best part of the whole cake. Made with cream cheese, butter, stevia, vanilla, and sour cream, it's tangy and delicious!
Add the cream cheese and butter to a mixer with the paddle attachment.
Mix on low speed until smooth, then add in stevia (or erythritol) and vanilla extract. Mix for about 30 seconds or so until all ingredients are combined. Finally, add sour cream as needed - you will see that some parts of it won't mix in well but don't worry about it, just keep on mixing.
Finally, remove the cake layers from the oven and let them cool for at least an hour before frosting!
Once they have cooled, frost with cream cheese icing as desired or simply leave plain if you prefer that look - either way your family won't be able to resist this delicious, fluffy frosting!
Tips For Success
While there are many different ways how to prepare this delicious dessert, our favorite version uses almond flour instead of all-purpose flour which means no processed ingredients or white sugar since stevia is the only sweetener used.
This cake also has a cream cheese frosting that's made without white sugar and instead, just uses stevia or erythritol to keep it a keto-friendly sweet treat!
You can vary the recipe by adding other ingredients like nuts or dried fruit to suit your taste buds! Here are some other options you can try:
Try using chopped pecans instead of walnuts for a slightly different flavor.
You can also use raisins, dried cranberries, pineapple chunks, unsweetened shredded coconut flakes, and other types of fruit to give more texture and a fun surprise flavor.
Maple syrup or monk fruit sweetener if you want a different kind of sweetener that you can add if stevia isn't your thing!
Instead of using almond flour, equal cups of coconut flour are a great alternative.
Storage
- Store the gluten-free carrot cake in an airtight container for up to a week.
- You can also wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and freeze it for up to three months. Make sure to write what it is and the date on the outside so you remember later.
- Thaw at room temperature before serving.
Equipment
- Mixer
- Mixing bowls
- Cake pans or spring form pans
- Parchment paper (optional)
FAQs
How much sugar does carrot cake have?
Other carrot cake recipes have a much higher sugar content than this one. Plus, this recipe uses ½ cup stevia (a natural sweetener), so you can be sure you're following your keto diet.
Can I have cream cheese on keto?
Cream cheese is high in protein and low in carbs which is perfect for a keto diet.
What are ketones?
Ketones are molecules created by our body when we break down fats to produce energy. This means that on a keto diet you're breaking down fat while eating plenty of protein which will help increase the number of ketones in your body.
How many carbs are in a keto carrot cake?
There are only 11 grams per slice of this keto carrot cake. There are 132 grams of carbs in the entire cake.
Best Keto Carrot Cake
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- ⅓ cup stevia or erythritol
- ½ cup butter
- 3 cups almond flour
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ cups shredded carrots
- ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped
For the cream cheese frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¼ cup stevia or erythritol
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons sour cream
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F.
- In a medium bowl, mix dry all ingredients (except stevia): almond flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and baking powder.
- In another bowl whisk the eggs with stevia, then add melted butter and vanilla extract.
- Combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix well.
- Add shredded carrots and half of the amount of walnuts, stir until it forms a consistent smooth cake batter.
- Line two 8-inch round cake pans with parchment paper or use a spring form pan. Distribute the cake batter amongst the two cake pans and bake for 35-40 minutes.
- Prepare the frosting by beating all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl using a mixer.
- Remove the cake layers from the oven and let them cool for at least 1 hour. In the meantime, place the frosting in a fridge.
- Once cooled, layer and frost the cake. Decorate with remaining walnuts. Place the cake in the fridge for 30-40 minutes, then it’s ready for serving. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
* This nutrition card is calculated by a third party app and is only an estimate. The numbers will vary based on the specific ingredient amounts and brands you use in making this recipe.
Did you try this recipe?
Please let me know how this Keto Carrot Cake turned out for you! Leave a comment and rating below and don't forget to sign up for the newsletter if you want to receive recipes, meal plans, and special offers in your inbox.
Hi! I'm the founder of Speak Veggie To Me, a fun health and food blog where I share my favorite mouthwatering vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Natalie
That cake looks amazing. The texture is perfectly flavored and looks very moist. I can't wait to make this for my family. Thanks.
Daniela Weiner
definitely going to try this recipe
Emily
This luscious carrot cake is delightful with the warm fall spices and amazing texture! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Choclette
Carrot cake made with almonds has to be a good thing. Adore any cake made with almonds, but turning them into an almost healthy carrot cake is awesome. It looks fabulous.
Holly
I love a classic carrot cake! Great recipe for those following a keto diet!
Heidy
This keto carrot cake recipe really is one of the best cake recipes that I have tried to date. I am passing your link to a few other friends that follow keto.
Silvia
What a great idea! We love carrot cake but we wanted to reduce the sugar, so your recipe was perfect for us. I will be making it often.
Ramona
We love carrot cake over here in my household and this keto carrot cake recipe looks super delicious! thank you for sharing this recipe, I cant wait to make this!
Enriqueta E Lemoine
I need to try this recipe asap. This keto carrot cake looks yummy and moist. Your pictures are simply beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Marisa Franca
I made this for our neighbor who had a birthday this week. She LOVED the cake. She's had problems with gluten for quite a while so when she was able to enjoy her favorite cake - carrot she was thrilled. She saved a piece for me and I have to admit it is delicious, just like a regular carrot cake.
Farrukh Aziz
I love how tasty this is, and for keto diets, its such a marvellous recipe! I love how you used stevia, awesome substitute for sugar! Surely making this again soon!
Sharon
I LOVE carrot cake but I'm always looking for recipes that are made keto or gluten-free for friends that follow specific diets. Saving this one for sure!
Chef Dennis
I can have this all day! Your Keto Carrot cake is really mouthwatering.
Liz
Nothing better than a slice of carrot cake, topped with cream cheese frosting!
Beth
We love carrot cake and it's one of my favorite desserts! So glad I found this keto recipe for my favorite cake! Very excited to make this with my daughter!
Helen
OMG that cake looks amazing! I love carrot cake and this one is perfect.
Gloria
I do love carrot cake. I am going to try making these into muffins. That way I can freeze some, so I don't have to eat the whole cake. I am the only person that loves carrot cake (bonus...I don't have to share).
Katherine
This carrot cake looks incredible! Great that it's keto too!
Pam Greer
I was looking for a recipe for almond flour and this sounds perfect! We love carrot cake!
Gina
My favorite dessert ever! Such lovely pictures of it - can't wait to try this lower carb approach for our next gathering!
mihaela
Carrot cake is one of the few I have never made; I don't even know why... Your keto version sounds really good, and perhaps it will motivate me to give it a try:)
Julia
I think Carrot cake is the best cake in the whole world. This is my husband's favourite cake so I'm going to try this and see what he thinks. Love it!
Susan
Carrot cake is the best!!
abhi
Hi Anaiah, this carrot cake looks so yummy. I love the way you capture such beautiful pictures. It looks like that cake will pop out from the images! Thanks for sharing!!!
Jeannie
You had me at carrot cake! I so love this recipe
Kayla DiMaggio
Yum! It was my dad's birthday this past weekend and his favorite sweet is carrot cake. I love this version because it is healthier than the typical version, I don't feel guilty eating it!
Gina Abernathy
I am a huge carrot cake fan! I like the way you made it keto friendly. Now, I won't feel so guilty when having a slice (or two) for dessert.
Akshita Pillai
That looks great! Can't wait to try it ❤️
Emily Flint
This carrot cake was so delicious and an easy swap to make it keto! Thank you!!