Clean Eating Carrot Cake

Have you experienced walking through the mall and all you can smell is the warm cinnamon sugar coming from the Cinnabon counter and your mouth just starts to water? It's almost like you can taste the Cinnabon cinnamon rolls in your mouth before you ever see the actual Cinnabon sign. Carrot cake has that same affect on me.

I've tried convincing myself they are healthy because they are made with carrots... but that can only go so far before I find myself MISERABLE from all the sugar, trans fats, and empty calories.

With that being said, what better way to try a carrot cake that you can actually feel GOOD About eating than on Christmas?!

Clean Eating Carrot Cake

Yield: 1 cake, 9 squares 

Serving Size: 1 square 

Ingredients:

For the cake:

• 1 1/2 cups almond flour 
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda 
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon 
• 3/4 tsp. nutmeg 
• 1 tbsp. coconut oil, melted (bring to room temp.)
• 1 large egg 
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract 
• 1/2 cup 100% pure maple syrup 
• 1/4 cup Greek Yogurt 
• 1/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 2 1/2 cup grated carrots

For the frosting:

• 10 oz. ricotta cheese 
• 3 tbsp. Greek Yogurt 
• 2 tbsp. 100% pure maple syrup 
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract 
• Liquid Stevia (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 F and coat a 9' square baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. 
2. To prepare the cake, whisk together the flour and next 5 ingredients (through coconut oil) in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, egg, and vanilla, Stir in the maple syrup and Greek yogurt, mix until no large clumps remain. Alternate between adding the flour mixture and the milk, stirring just until incorporated, beginning and ending with the flour. Fold in the carrots. 
3. Spread the batter into the prepared pan and baked at 350 for 28-30 minutes. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before turning onto a wire rack. Cool completely to room temperature before frosting. 
4. To prepare the frosting, stir together the ricotta cheese, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, vanilla, and stevia if you are using into a medium bowl. Spread on top of cooled cake. Let frosting set for 1-2 hours before slicing and serving.