Fragrant and Healthy Carrot Cake

This carrot cake uses very little sugar and is very fragrant and sweet from molasses and dried figs that I use as a substitute for sugar. Citrus fruit and spices give it very fresh taste. It is a very moist and tasty cake.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 10 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
• Calories: 315 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• ½ cup raisins
• ¼ cup chopped pecans
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 cups grated carrots
• ¾ cup cake flour
• ¾ cup whole wheat flour
• 1 ½ tablespoons molasses
• 1 ½ teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1 orange, juiced and zested
• 1 tablespoon carob powder (Optional)
• 5 dried figs, chopped

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9 inch Bundt pan.

Step 2

In a large bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, cake flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, carob, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center and pour in the molasses, oil, eggs and orange juice. Mix until the dry ingredients are moistened, then stir in the orange zest, lemon zest, raisins, figs, poppy seeds, carrots and pecans until evenly distributed. Pour into the prepared pan.

Step 3

Bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes before removing from the pan.