Name: Vegan Carrot Cake
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 people
Ingredients: 1 cup soy milk (or any plant-based milk); 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar ((sub lemon juice)); 2 tablespoons ground flax meal (+ 5 tablespoons water); 1 cup granulated sugar; 1/2 cup brown sugar; 1/2 cup grapeseed oil (or any neutral flavored oil); 1/2 cup applesauce; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour; 2 teaspoons baking powder; 1 teaspoon baking soda; 2 teaspoons cinnamon; 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg; 1 teaspoon salt; 2 1/2 cups carrots (, finely grated (not matchstick)); Double batch Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting ((*see note)); 1/3 cup walnuts (, chopped or crushed (*optional))

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This Vegan Carrot Cake has sugar, spice, and everything nice! It’s loaded with warm spices and has a tender-sweet crumb that will melt in your mouth.

If you haven’t tried Vegan Carrot Cake yet, you’re going to love this version! It’s just as delicious as the original and nobody will know the difference. You can make it for Easter or any time of the year.

WHAT DOES CARROT CAKE TASTE LIKE?

Ironically, it doesn’t taste much like carrots at all. It has a very subtle carrot flavor, but the cake gets most of its flavor from the brown sugar, vanilla, and warm spices. It’s heavenly! The cake consistency is dense, ultra-moist and tender. It will melt in your mouth!

HOW TO MAKE VEGAN CARROT CAKE

(full ingredient amounts in recipe card below)

Sift flour into a large mixing bowl and then whisk in baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
Combine soy milk and apple cider vinegar in a medium mixing bowl. Let it sit for 10 minutes to create vegan buttermilk.
Now add the oil, applesauce, sugar, brown sugar, prepared flax egg, and vanilla to the medium bowl with buttermilk. Whisk to combine well

Slowly pour the wet ingredients into the larger bowl of dry ingredients. Whisk together until just combined. Small lumps are fine. (*Don’t over mix).
Gently fold in the carrots to combine.

Divide batter between 2 8-Inch Pie Pans and place in the oven for 35-40 minutes. To check for doneness, lightly press the surface – It should spring back. You can also insert a toothpick in the middle. It should come out mostly clean.
Let the cake cool in the pans for 10-15 minutes before removing. Then let them cool on a rack completely before frosting.

WHICH FROSTING IS BEST FOR CARROT CAKE?

I love topping it with my Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting, but you can use Vegan Buttercream Frosting or any type you prefer. You can also use Store-Bought Vegan Frosting or even leave it plain.

If you want to frost your cake as I did in the photos (it’s called naked cake frosting), you’ll only need one batch of my Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting instead of two. It’s really easy to do and requires minimal effort. Here’s a Short Video Tutorial for a how-to visual.

CAN YOU FREEZE IT?

Yes, carrot cake freezes really well and thaws perfectly! You can freeze it in portions, so you’ll have a slice ready when your sweet tooth kicks in.

I haven’t tried freezing it with the frosting though. I’m sure it would work, but the frosting could dry out a bit and maybe crack. This also depends on which brand of cream cheese that you use. I’ll update when I give it a try.

Do you love sweets? You may like these too:

I’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you make this Vegan Carrot Cake, let me know what you think by ★ star rating it and leaving a comment below. It would really make my day. You can also follow me on Instagram and share your creation with me. Just tag me @veganhuggs and hashtag #veganhuggs so I don’t miss it.

Step By Step Photos Above

Vegan Carrot Cake

This Vegan Carrot Cake has sugar, spice, and everything nice! It’s loaded with warm spices and has a tender-sweet crumb that will melt in your mouth.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American, Vegan

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Servings: people

Calories: 435kcal

Author: Melissa Huggins

Ingredients

Wet Ingredients:

1 cup soy milk or any plant-based milk
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar (sub lemon juice)
2 tablespoons ground flax meal + 5 tablespoons water
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup grapeseed oil or any neutral flavored oil
1/2 cup applesauce
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt

Additional Ingredients

2 1/2 cups carrots , finely grated (not matchstick)
Double batch Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting (*see note)
1/3 cup walnuts , chopped or crushed (*optional)

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Line the bottom of 2 8-inch Cake Pans with parchment paper and lightly grease the sides.
Combine the ground flax and water in a small bowl. Set aside for 10 min. It will thicken and gel up a bit.
In a medium mixing bowl, add the soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Combine and let it sit for 10 minutes to create vegan buttermilk. It will thicken and curdle slightly. Set aside. (soy milk curdles the best)
In a large mixing bowl with a Mesh Strainer on top (or use a Flour Sifter), sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Now whisk to combine well. Set aside.
In the medium bowl with the buttermilk, add the oil, applesauce, white and brown sugar, prepared flax egg, and vanilla. Whisk to combine well.
Now slowly pour the wet ingredients into the larger bowl of dry ingredients. Whisk together until just combined. Small lumps are fine. (*Don't over mix). Gently fold in the carrots to combine.
Divide batter between both pans and place in the oven for 35-40 minutes. To check for doneness, lightly press the surface - It should spring back (You can also use a toothpick and push it through the center - it should come out mostly clean).
Let the cake cool in the pan for 10-15 minutes before removing. Then let them cool on a rack completely before frosting. Frost and top with walnuts if desired. Enjoy!

Notes

* Nutritional info doesn't include the frosting. That information is in that recipe card.

* If you want to frost the cake like my photos above, you will only need 1 batch of cream cheese frosting (instructional video in the post above).

* I do not recommend matchstick carrots for this recipe. Finely grated carrots provide moisture and they soften better during baking.

* Make sure the baking powder and baking soda are not expired. Fresh baking agents are important for a successful baking experience.

MEASURING FLOUR: For accurate results, don't scoop the flour with a measuring cup directly from the flour container. Instead, scoop the flour out of your container with a spoon and then into a measuring cup. Don't pack or tap the cup. After filling, lightly sweep a butter knife across the top to remove the excess flour. * Example photo below recipe card.

Nutrition

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Melissa Huggins

Melissa is the creator and recipe developer of the popular food & lifestyle blog, Vegan Huggs. It's a friendly and approachable environment for anyone who's curious about plant-based eating or cruelty-free living. Her blog is filled with comforting, familiar and easy-to-follow recipes that will fit into every household. Each dish is beautifully photographed in her own unique style with an inviting feel to them. Also, she has built a solid relationship with her readers and has a real understanding of what makes them return.