Carrot cake has always been one of my favorite desserts! This vegan carrot cake recipe doesn't hold out on the quintessential classic: it's light, moist, fluffy, and kinda healthy. Top it with vegan cream cheese frosting (recipe included) and you're headed for taste bud bliss. Plus this easy recipe does it all in just one bowl and a worry-free bundt pan!
What special ingredients do I need to make this vegan carrot cake?
- Egg Replacer - I used Vegan Egg by Follow Your Heart. It's not cheap, but I love it. If you can't find it locally, Amazon sells it. Most of the time I just use flax eggs in my recipes (1 tablespoon of ground flax to three Tbsp. cold water whisked together and set for 5 minutes) and some readers have used this substitute with good success.
- If you're going for the topping (and I totally recommend it!! YUM!) you'll also want vegan cream cheese and vegan stick margarine on hand.
Related recipe: Vegan Zucchini Muffins
How to make Vegan Carrot Cake:
Grab a large mixing bowl. Add non-dairy milk and vinegar and whisk together to create vegan buttermilk (Photo 1).
Add cold water and vegan egg powder and whisk together (Photos 2 & 3). Now add oil, applesauce, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla and whisk together (Photos 4 & 5).
Add sugar, flour, and baking soda and baking powder on top (nested in the flour) (Photo 6). Mix all together until well combined (avoid over-mixing) (Photo 7).
Fold in raisins, finely shredded carrots, and chopped walnuts (Photo 8).
Thoroughly oil or pan-spray your bundt pan (don't forget the shaft especially!) and pour your carrot cake batter into it (Photo 9). Note: I do not recommend flouring your pan, only oil or pan-spray.
Bake at 350 degrees on the middle rack for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (Photo 10).
Related recipe: Vegan Lemon Quick Bread
Expert Cake tips:
After removing the carrot cake from the oven let it cool IN the Bundt pan for 10-15 minutes before trying to remove it. Then, using a blunt thin instrument such as a plastic knife, check to make sure the cake has loosened from the pan on all sides, including the shaft. You can also give the cake a bit of a shake sideways to see if it's loosened up.
Place a wire rack over the surface of the pan and flip pan and rack over together to remove the cake from the pan and onto the wire cooling rack (Photo 11). Let the cake cool while you prepare the vegan cream cheese frosting.
No carrot cake is complete without cream cheese frosting and this vegan cream cheese frosting absolutely takes this cake to a WHOLE new level of amazing. Simply in love!
More vegan baking recipes: Vegan Sticky Buns with Apples
How to make Vegan Cream Cheese frosting:
- Let your vegan stick margarine and vegan cream cheese rest at room temperature while you're baking the cake (Photo 12).
- Beat together vegan margarine and vegan cream cheese, then add vanilla, and powdered sugar (Photo 13.)
- Beat everything together until smooth (Photo 14).
- Try to avoid eating all the frosting while waiting for the cake to cool!!
- Spread the cream cheese frosting on the cake once it is mostly cooled. I usually like the cake to be still slightly warm, so that the frosting cascades down the sides in a most irresistible way! Start at the crest of the bundt shape adding a little at a time until you've got it all on there! If it's dripping too fast (maybe the cake is too hot or the frosting too warm) just put either the cake or the icing (or both) in the refrigerator for a few minutes to cool a bit.
- Garnish with a few chopped walnuts.
- Place your finished vegan carrot cake into the refrigerator for at least half an hour to set the icing. Then serve!!
How long does Vegan Carrot Cake last?
You can keep your carrot cake in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Can I freeze Vegan Carrot Cake?
Freeze any left-over vegan carrot cake in a covered container for up to three months. The icing may not look quite as pretty after being frozen and thawed but it will still taste fabulous!
Hope you enjoy making this Vegan Carrot Cake! You may also enjoy:
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Recipe
Best Vegan Carrot Cake
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup Vegan buttermilk, mix 1 teaspoon white vinegar with non-dairy milk to make vegan buttermilk
- 3 Vegan eggs, 6 tbsp. Vegan Egg by Follow Your Heart and ¾ C. Cold water
- ½ cup Applesauce
- ½ cup Canola oil
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- 1 ½ cup Sugar, organic if you prefer
- 2 cup All purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon Baking powder
- 1 teaspoon Baking soda
- 2 cup Finely shredded carrot, not packed
- 1 cup Coarsely chopped walnuts
- ½ cup Raisins
Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting:
- ¼ cup Vegan cream cheese
- 3 tablespoon stick margarine, or vegan butter, I used earth balance
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- ¾ cup Powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350.
- In a medium sized bowl whisk non-dairy milk and vinegar together to make vegan buttermilk.
- Add Vegan egg and water (or other egg substitute if preferred). Whisk again.
- Now add applesauce, oil, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Whisk well.
- Add sugar, flour, baking powder and baking soda. Mix until incorporated but do not over mix.
- Fold in shredded carrots, walnuts, raisins.
- Grease your bundt pan well with oil or pan spray. (I do NOT recommend flouring the pan.) All sides, especially middle shaft. Pour mixture in and bake for approx, 50-55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- Place bundt pan on cooling rack for 10-15 minutes before attempting to remove cake from pan. Use plastic knife or other slim non-sharp object to ensure separation of cake from pan. Be sure to do this around middle shaft. Shake pan from side to side to see if loosened. Place wire cooling rack overtop of bundt pan and flip carefully. Voila!!
- Let cake cool on wire rack for 30-60 minutes or until mostly cool before attempting to frost.
Making the Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting
- While the cake is baking, let vegan cream cheese and margarine soften at room temperature.
- Beat vegan cream cheese and margarine together. Add vanilla extract and whip with confectioner sugar until smooth.
- Pour or spoon frosting over the (mostly cooled) cake and add extra chopped walnuts for garnish if desired. Place in the refrigerator for a few moments to set the frosting. Serve and decor!
Krist
I am curious if it would be OK to sub whole wheat flour?? I am out of AP after the last one I made! lol 🙂
Rebecca
I would not recommend subbing whole wheat flour in this recipe. The results might be rather dense/heavy! Sorry, I know it's a bummer to run out of the stuff you need when you need it!
Krist
I made this for Easter(added 1/2 tsp nutmeg and 1/4 tsp clove).....and I've been asked to make it again for dessert this weekend. lol EVERYONE thought it was the best carrot cake they've ever had. THANK YOU! This is our first vegan Easter celebration and it was a joy to wrap everything up with your carrot cake recipe. Cheers
Rebecca
You are so welcome! I love that it could add to your special day! Oh, and love your spice adds, too! Thanks for the comment!
lcv inVermont
This was delicious and so easy to make. I tossed in a little pineapple and coconut because I like that in a carrot cake but it would have been fine without it. Thanks for the great recipe!
Rebecca
Glad that you enjoyed the cake recipe and love your additions! Thanks for your comment! Much appreciated!
Cathy
I made this carrot cake for Easter. Absolutely the best carrot cake I’ve ever had - vegan or non-vegan. My carnivorous husband agreed - not overly sweet and very moist.
Rebecca
Thanks so much for your kind comment!! So glad that you and your hubby loved it and could enjoy it on such a special day!
Meryl
If I'm using the Flax Egg method, do I make 3 Flax eggs?...
Rebecca
Yes! Three flax eggs (1 egg = 1 Tbsp ground flax + 3 Tbsp water). Have fun!
lcv inVermont
What size bundt pan does this recipe call for?
Rebecca
Thanks for the question! My bundt pan is average, holding about 10 cups. If you're bundt pan is slightly larger or smaller it should still work, you would just need to adjust the baking time slightly! Happy Baking!
Esther Schlittenhart
I am totally inspired. I think I'll make this next time we have company. I should have had company when we had our cheesecake today. Definitely need to share these yummy recipes so we don't all eat WAY tooooo much !!!!!
Rebecca
Yeah, this cake is a tiny bit indulgent, but oh soo good! 🙂 Need to catch up with you soon!
vegancountrygirl
Made this recipe this afternoon. I used ground flax eggs instead of an egg replacer. It turn out wonderful! It didn't even need frosting. Great recipe.
Rebecca
Awesome! Good to know it works well that way too!
Jayme
Looks Yummy! Would love to try this.
Michelle Busl
Yum! This looks amazing! Can't wait to try it????