Eating healthy during the holidays is possible—even easy—with recipes such as this delicious spiced carrot cake from Cook Smart, Eat Well! Sure to be a crowd-pleaser, this healthy recipe combines flavorful spices into a tasty and easy-to-make dessert. Enjoy the recipe below or follow along with me in this video.
1 cup sugar
¼ cup canola oil
1 cup fat-free plain yogurt
4 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
½ teaspoon cloves
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups shredded carrots
Optional Frosting
8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly grease two 8x8-inch cake pans with cooking spray.
In a large mixing bowl, add the sugar, yogurt, oil and eggs. Using an electric mixer, mix approximately 2-3 minutes to dissolve the sugar.
Add the dry ingredients and the vanilla and mix on medium speed about 1 minute until well incorporated. Fold or mix in the shredded carrots.
Divide the batter between the cake pans. Bake approximately 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean in the center or the top of the cake bounces back when touched.
Slice each cake into 6 pieces. If desired, drizzle with a light cream cheese icing. Or cut each cake in half, placing one half on top of the other with a layer of icing between.
Nutritional analysis (1 slice):
200 calories, 6 g fat, 1 g saturated fat, 6 g protein, 31 g carbohydrates, 1 g fiber, 330 mg sodium
Happy baking,
Jennifer A. Welper, Wellness Executive Chef
Author of Cook Smart, Eat Well
More than 100 recipes
Something for every meal—bright salads, zesty tacos, hearty comfort foods, savory lean meats and burgers, stir-fries, kid-friendly dishes, and desserts.
