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Vegan Carrot Cake
























Carrot cake is not something I have ever enjoyed. I never see one and want a slice, so I surprised myself with this recipe.

I was over at Katiecakes when I fell in love with this cake. It was lust at first sight. Katie had iced her cake so beautifully and I think that was it for me. I had to have one.

I have made this cake twice now. This first one was none too elegant. I spread the frosting over the whole cake and it wasn't the vision that Katie's cake was. I definitely need some practice at the old icing lark. The second time I made the cake, I just frosted the top and if I do say so myself, it looked gorgeous.

Yes, I love this cake so much I have made it twice and I am planning to make it again soon. The texture is gorgeous and it is lovely and moist. You get a hint of the banana and you can really taste the spices. The carrot is just an added bonus.

Hi, my name is Jacqueline and I am a carrot cake addict!




















Vegan Carrot Cake

2 ¼ cups self-raising flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground ginger
½ cup + 1 tbsp margarine
¾ cup light brown sugar
2 ¼ cups carrots, grated
1 medium banana mashed
1 orange, grated rind and juice


frosting

1/2 cup vegan margarine
1/2 cup vegan cream cheese
4 cups icing sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract


decoration


finely grated rind of 1 orange



Preheat the oven to 180c/350f/Gas 4.

Lightly grease or place a greaseproof cake liner into a 18cm round or 20cm square cake tin.

Sift the flour, baking powder and spices into a large bowl.

Melt the margarine in a pan, add the sugar and stir until dissolved.

Make a well in the flour mixture, then add the margarine and sugar. Mix in the carrots, banana and orange zest and juice.

Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin and level the top with the back of a spoon.

Bake for around 40 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing from the tin.

For the frosting, cream the margarine and cream cheese together until well mixed.

Add the icing sugar half a cup at a time, blending in carefully until you have used all the icing sugar.

Mix in vanilla extract and spread generously over the cake.

Sprinkle orange rind over the frosting for a pretty finish.

Thank you so much for this cake Katie and thank you for giving me permission to publish the recipe. My friends, family and colleagues would all like to thank you too. I took the second cake into my work and it was demolished within 2 hours and not everyone got a piece. I think you can safely say it was greatly enjoyed.

I converted the cake into cup measures as I am too lazy to get my scales out, if I don't have to, but you can drool over Katie's cake and find the recipe in metric over at Katiecakes.


Little owl would like to remind you, you could win a veggie haggis by entering this giveaway, you could win a cute little badge for your blog by entering this month's No Croutons Required and you can catch up on lots of other food blog events, challenges and competitions here.

28 comments

  1. I love to hear that you're a carrot cake convert! It's definitely one of my faves and this one looks wonderful!

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  2. There's no question that your cake looks elegant and gorgeous. And it's vegan, too! Even I can have a piece. :) (Thanks for converting it to cups for those of us who don't have scales.)

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  3. Lol. Katie does have a wicked way with an icing bag / spoon doesn't she! Yours looks great too, very moist and yummy looking ;0)

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  4. Haha, thanks Chele :D

    I'm so lad you enjoyed the cake Jac! It really is a cracker of a recipe. To tell you the truth, I prefer vegan baked goods to dairy, and vegan chocolate chips are to die for!!!

    Katie xox

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  5. I have icing envy too Jac :) This looks so delicious, it looks so scrummy & moist. I love your photos - what camera do you use? I am on the hunt for a new one. Thanks hun. Lucie x

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  6. I am definitely a convert now Michelle, I may even order it when I am out :)

    Thanks Andrea and I will always convert recipes if I have time. I much prefer using cups now in my baking, it is so much quicker and easier. I am grateful that other bloggers, such as Katie, are kind enough to let me print their recipes and change the measurements.

    She does Chele, I don't think I can ever hope to finish a cake with quite the same skill as Katie.

    It is one humdinger of a cake Katie, thanks for letting me share it :)

    Thanks Lucie. Do you know my mind went blank when you asked what camera I have. I will email you the details :)

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  7. It doesn't take much to convince me I need carrot cake (except the flavourless ones in the cafe opposite where I work - they are so bad that the other day they couldn't even tell the difference between carrot and banana - hope you haven't encountered such pretenders that would put anyone off carrot cake) but that cream cheese frosting does look extra tempting! Hope cooper didn't have to battle with the amazing cake for attention :-)

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  8. They do sound particularly bad cakes Johanna, what a disappointment. You would love this one Johanna :)

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  9. You had me at vegan ;) Seriously though, that carrot cake sounds amazing!

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  10. This looks great Jacqueline and has given me much needed inspiration. I shall soon be having to make a vegan cake and haven't felt desperately inspired so far, but this might just do the trick - thank you.

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  11. Hi Jacqueline, I'm Nancy Real of The Kitchen Buzzz@blogspot.com. I love the idea of vegan carrot cake. I'll experiment with it soon. Thanks for sharing this great recipe. I love all types of cooking, too.

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  13. You will love it Choclette and I am glad I posted it at just the right time for you :)

    Hi Nancy, Nice to meet you and thanks for stopping by :)

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  14. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Carrot cake is some amazing stuff and now a vegan version.

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  15. Love this cake. What a great topping.

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  16. No wonder, Jacqueline! I love the way it's frosted too! Going to steal that idea for some other cakes I make.
    I didn't need to be converted, I've always like carrot cakes. Do not have a recipe that uses bananas though and it sounds wonderful.

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  17. Hello Jacqueline, I'm the local Carrot Cakes Anonymous area supervisor. Seriously, I love them and that one looks awesome.

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  18. I'm not a fan of carrot cake either but if this recipe converted you, it may convert me too!

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  19. I think that a good carrot cake can happily stand among other great cakes! Yours looks lovely and I'm drooling at the thick frosting

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  20. Glad you appreciated it TB :)

    Thanks Tobias :)

    Oh. it is wonderful Barbara :)

    I am glad I passed the inspection Lynn, he he :D

    Hope you give it a go Alex:)

    I have changed my opinion after trying this cake CC and it definitely stands proud among other cakes. I would choose this over chocolate cake most days :)

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  21. We're not vegans, but this cake would still hit the spot. Looks perfect.

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  22. I'm not either Duo Dishes, but it is gorgeous :)

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  23. ah, welcome to the club, jacqueline--you're among some awesome company (myself included). :) carrot cake can be so divine, and i like this version. vegans should get to join the club too. :)

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  24. I agree Grace and I am making the cake again today. It is a great one if you have a surplus of carrots. That's my excuse anyway. I am making the frosting with regular cream cheese today, so the topping won't be vegan, but I do love this cake :)

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  25. I'm glad that you've been converted into a carrot cake lover!! ;) Carrot cake has always been one of my favourites, but only if it's iced with cream cheese frosting as this one is. I've never tried one with banana before. I like walnuts and raisins in there too and I've tried ones with dried coconut and pineapple mmm.

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  26. Hi Ashley, Oh the dried coconut and pineapple sounds brilliant. You don't have a recipe for that one do you?

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  27. I like a carrot cake, but don't go mad for it. Will have to try this recipe and see if I too become a convert!

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I love reading comments, so thank you for taking the time to leave one. Unfortunately, I'm bombarded with spam, so I've turned on comment moderation. I'll publish your comments as soon as I can and respond to them. Don't panic, they will disappear when you hit publish. Jac x