Keto Friendly Almond Flour Carrot Cake Recipe

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Our keto friendly almond flour carrot cake recipe is perfect for your carrot cake lover. Lower in sugar than the traditional but big on what you love about carrot cake.

Made with simple and traditional ingredients, we only do a few substitutions to give you this nostalgic cake just like you’d expect.

A slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting on a wooden surface. Visible on the slice are grated carrots and small pieces of pecans. Next to the slice is a fork and some scattered pecan pieces. Part of a larger cake on a white plate can be seen at the top.

Sometimes you just need cake. Traditional cakes like our BUTTERMILK POUND CAKE and our STRAWBERRY UPSIDE DOWN CAKE are great but when you are trying to watch your sugar intake, they can be something we’d need to stay away from and are more for special occasions. This keto friendly almond flour carrot cake recipe can change all of that.

There are tons of low carb and keto friendly options for desserts you love and we are proud to share this one with you. Our low carb carrot cake is still scratch made with a few minor substitutions.

Ingredients

Made with simple ingredients, this one is good for a keto diet or a low carb diet. Much like the classic carrot cake, we use scratch baking to perfect it to a healthy carrot cake recipe.

A partially eaten slice of carrot cake with white frosting sits on a wooden surface. A fork and several small pieces of carrot and walnut are adjacent to the cake slice.

Almond flour – while this ingredient is a little pricier than regular flour, it is so versatile and can be used in so many things. Doesn’t matter the grind, it doesn’t have to be fine ground.
brown sugar replacement – swerve and other brands have a cup for cup option for baking.
baking soda – to help give rise to the cake.
cinnamon – normal , ground cinnamon. We like to grate our own for optimal freshness.
granular sugar replacement – again, swerve has a cup for cup option for this as well.
baking powder – pantry staple for baking.
salt – important for any sweet dessert to help bring balance and bring out the sweet in desserts.
nutmeg – just for warmth. If nutmeg is not your thing, try grating some yourself. Whole nutmegs are easily found and have changed lots of relationships with this spice.
grated carrots – we don’t need much, just one cup.
melted butter – to add moisture to our cake.
pecans – for texture and that full effect.
eggs – the ties that bind and help rise.
Cream cheese – for the icing.
Half and half – to add creaminess to the icing.
Vanilla – good baking vanilla is recommended here. No imitation will compare.
Confectioners sugar replacement – also a cup for cup option. So good!

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions for this keto friendly carrot cake

Cakes and desserts always look intimidating. So many steps but trust me, its just lots of little parts that equal to big flavor.

A person holds a small glass container with a beige paste-like substance above a bowl with flour in it, placed on a wooden countertop. The stovetop beneath has salt and pepper shakers, measuring spoons, and an open box of baking soda.

First, we assemble our dry ingredients. We combine almond flour with brown sugar replacement.

A person is adding a tablespoon of an ingredient from a jar into a speckled mixing bowl on a wooden cutting board. The bowl contains brown sugar and other powdered ingredients. Measuring spoons, a spice jar, and a butter carton are on the board. Stove burners are visible.

Add in baking powder.

A person is mixing dry ingredients in a large speckled mixing bowl placed on a wooden surface. Open spice jars and a packet of cream cheese are nearby. The bowl is on a stove top with visible burners.

And baking soda.

Top view of a stovetop with a wooden cutting board on it. A mixing bowl at the center contains white sugar and brown sugar. A hand is pouring sugar from a bag labeled "Super" into the bowl. Baking ingredients and a measuring spoon are also visible.

And the granulated sugar replacement.

A white bowl with blue speckles on a wooden cutting board contains sugar and brown sugar. Small jars, a round wooden lid, and a small measuring cup lie around the bowl. The setup is on a gas stovetop with six burners.

You may sift these ingredients if you wish but we just mix with a whisk to combine.

A bowl with a speckled design sits on a wooden cutting board placed on a stovetop. It contains a mix of white and brown sugar. A person is adding spices from a small jar and stirring the contents with a spoon. Various containers and measuring spoons are nearby.

Then, add in ground cinnamon.

A person is adding a spoonful of brown sugar to a speckled mixing bowl on a wooden cutting board. The board also holds a salt cellar, a pepper shaker, and a small measuring cup. The scene is set on a gas stove.

And a pinch of salt. About 1/2 teaspoon.

A person grates an ingredient into a mixing bowl with a speckled design on a wooden countertop. Various baking ingredients like baking soda, salt, and spices are visible nearby, along with a wire whisk and a bottle of olive oil. The person wears a smartwatch.

Grate in 1/4 teaspoon of fresh nutmeg.

Overhead view of a wooden cutting board on a stovetop with a bowl containing dry ingredients and two cracked eggs. A hand holds a smaller bowl with three more eggs above the larger bowl. Nearby are a salt shaker, pepper shaker, whisk, and measuring spoon.

We add in our wet ingredients directly to the large bowl of dry ingredients. Start by adding melted butter. Whisk in eggs, one at a time.

A person is adding chopped orange vegetables from a small bowl into a larger bowl containing a mixture. The wooden countertop holds salt, pepper shakers, a whisk, and a measuring spoon. The scene is set on a stovetop with four burners.

Mix in our grated carrots and 1/2 cup of chopped pecans.

A person uses a spatula to scrape batter from a speckled mixing bowl into a fluted bundt pan on a stovetop. The scene shows kitchen utensils in the background and a bottle of oil on the counter.

Pour in a cake pan that has been sprayed well with cooking spray.

A person spreading batter evenly in a Bundt pan with a spatula. The pan is placed on a wooden cutting board, and the person is wearing a beige sweater. The scene is set on a stovetop with visible burners.

Spread evenly in the pan. Bake at 350 F for 45 to 60 minutes until an internal thermometer reads 205. Allow the cake to cool completely.

For the Cream Cheese Icing

A pair of hands holding a glass bowl with a lump of butter on a wooden cutting board. On the board, there's also a carton of heavy cream, a measuring spoon, and a bag of Swerve sweetener. A sheet of foil with chopped nuts and a stovetop are visible.

While the cake cools, we prepare the frosting. To a medium bowl, we add 4oz of softened cream cheese.

A person is preparing a mixture in a glass bowl on a wooden cutting board placed between two stovetops. They are pouring vanilla extract from a bottle into the bowl which contains a white substance. Ingredients and utensils are scattered around.

1/2 a teaspoon of vanilla.

A person pours a small carton of heavy cream into a glass mixing bowl that already contains some ingredients. A package of Sumo oranges and a tray with wood chips are visible on the stovetop. The scene is set on a wooden cutting board between two stovetop burners.

4 tablespoons of half and half.

A person is holding a bag of Swerve Confectioners sweetener above a mixing bowl on a wooden board. To the left, there is crumpled foil with browned bits. A box of POM cream and a whisk are nearby. The scene is set on a kitchen countertop with a stove visible.

1 cup of confectioners sugar replacement.

A person is mixing a batter in a clear glass bowl using a handheld electric mixer. A white spatula and a carton with a red and white label are on the wooden cutting board. There is also a foil-lined tray with what appears to be nuts on the left.

Mix well to combine.

A person is spreading white frosting onto a bundt cake using a spatula. The cake sits on a white cake stand placed on a wooden cutting board. There are some kitchen items, including a cooling rack and cooking utensils, visible in the background.

Frost the top of the cooled cake.

A person's hands are seen adding toasted coconut flakes to a frosted Bundt cake on a white plate. The person is wearing a smartwatch and a beige sweater. The cake is on a wooden cutting board, which is placed on a stove with grates visible.

For an added special touch, we roasted spare grated carrot, pecans and a little brown sugar replacement until toasty and use it to garnish our beautiful and easy keto carrot cake.

A slice of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting rests on a wooden cutting board. The cake has visible carrot shreds and small crumbles around it. A few pieces of walnut are scattered nearby.

Why Brooke loves this recipe!

Recipes are like antiques. They are meant to be handed down from one generation to another. Each one holding a special memory or nostalgic memory. Here is why we love this one!

I am a sugar addict. Since watching my sugar intake, I have made alterations to how I cook. Recipes like this one are fabulous to show how you can still enjoy treats and not have to worry so much about it!

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Substitutions

This recipe already has lots of substitutions but here, we give you a few more.

Coconut flour – use in place of almond flour. Add in stages as you may not need as much as coconut flour is a little more dense.
Wheat Flour – while this will alter the nutritional value, whole wheat flour is a good option if that is what you have on hand. It is still milled less and not bleached so it is a healthier alternative to traditional bleached flours.
Traditional Carrot Cake Recipe – use regular sugars and flours to make the classic recipe you know and love.

Equipment

🔧 I love to share recipes that are no special equipment required but here are a few things that would definitely make this recipe easier!

Storage

Almond flour cakes get dry fast. Make sure you store this in an airtight cake keeper to preserve the moisture of the cake.

This cake freezes well. Wrap well to protect the cake. We like to slice it and freeze it in individual slices for when we need a touch of sweet. Thaw at room temperature and enjoy as normal.

A partially frosted carrot cake topped with chopped nuts and shredded carrots sits on a white plate placed on a wooden surface. A slice has been cut from the cake and sits nearby with a fork beside it.

⭐ LOVE THIS RECIPE? It would mean so very much to me if you would take a moment to rate this recipe and leave me a sweet comment in the recipe card below! ❤️❤️We hope you love all of the Southern and healthy recipes we share here at The Buttered Home and would love to see you back here often!

A partially eaten, frosted bundt cake on a white plate. The cake is topped with chopped nuts and orange zest. A small slice is placed on the wooden surface next to the plate, also showing its frosting and toppings. A fork is nearby.

Keto Friendly Almond Flour Carrot Cake Recipe

Our keto friendly almond flour carrot cake is perfect for your carrot cake lover. Lower in sugar than the traditional but big on what you love about carrot cake. Made with simple and traditional ingredients, we only do a few substitutions to give you this nostalgic cake just like you'd expect.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 44

Serving Size

Ingredients

For the Almond Flour Carrot Cake

1.5 cups almond flour
1/4 cup brown sugar replacement
1/4 tsp baking soda
1.25 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 cup granulated sugar replacement
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup carrots grated
4 tbsps butter melted
1/2 cup pecans chopped
4 eggs

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz cream cheese softened
4 tbsps half and half
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 cup confectioners sugar replacement

Instructions

For the Cake

Preheat the oven to 350. In a large bowl combine almond flour, brown sugar replacement, baking soda, cinnamon, granulated sugar replacement, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Whisk or sift to combine.
1.5 cups almond flour, 1/4 cup brown sugar replacement, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 1.25 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup granulated sugar replacement, 1.5 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp nutmeg
Mix in eggs one at a time. Add in melted butter and mix well. Fold in grated carrots and pecans. Pour evenly in pan or pans sprayed well with cooking spray. Bake at 350 until internal temperature of cake is 205. 45 to 60 minutes.
1 cup carrots, 4 tbsps butter, 4 eggs, 1/2 cup pecans
Allow cake to cool completely.

For the Frosting

In a medium bowl, combine softened cream cheese, vanilla, half and half and confections sugar replacement. Mix with a hand mixer until smooth. Frost cooled cake.
4 oz cream cheese, 4 tbsps half and half, 1/2 tsp vanilla, 1 cup confectioners sugar replacement

See How To Make It!

Notes

**For added garnish, roast some extra grated carrots and chopped pecans with a small amount of brown sugar replacement at 425 for a few minutes until golden brown.

🍴 PRO TIP!

If you have just a few people in your house and feel guilty about making a whole cake, DON’T. This one freezes so well you can slice into individual slices or smaller sections and freeze and just take out what you need. Wrap it well and keep it in a freezer safe container for best results.

🗹 RECIPE FAQ’S

Cool before frosting!

Make sure your cake is completely cool before frosting. If you don’t you will end up with more of a glaze. It will still taste good but if you want it to look like traditional carrot cake, don’t skip this step.

What kind of pan to bake it in?

This is not a huge cake, it can be done in a casserole pan a bundt pan like we did, two small cake pans for a layer cake or even a loaf pan. Knowing your cake is done when an internal thermometer reads 205 degrees F is key in making this keto friendly cake in any pan you choose.

Are carrots low carb?

Yes and no. Most vegetables fit in a low carb diet. Veggies that are sweeter like carrots and sweet potatoes are slightly higher in carbs and therefore should be eaten in moderation. Balance is key.

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