Paleo Maple Carrot Cake

Back in the day when I was starting out my paleo/gluten-free journey, I stumbled on a fantastic food blog called The Urban Poser, created by the talented Jenni Hulet. I got totally hooked by the beautiful photography and creative, mouthwatering looking recipes of marshmallows and cookies. Although Jenni does more than gluten-free and paleo treats and desserts, it is them that kept me coming back.

Then about a year and a half ago, I started following Jenni’s journey to create her first paleo patisserie cookbook. I had no doubt that it would be amazing, based on the blog, and I was very excited to receive a copy in the mail the other day. I don’t do many book reviews here (mainly because I always have so many things going on) but when something like My Paleo Pattisserie lands on your lap, you want to tell everyone about it.

Today I am sharing a gorgeous paleo maple carrot cake recipe from the book and my review but mark my word that you will see a few more of my own adaptations of Jenni’s delectable treats in the future – I have bookmarked way too many pages.

What you need to know about My Paleo Patisserie

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“My Paleo Pattiserie gathers all the rich heritage, exquisite elegance, and rustic beauty of traditional patisserie baking and seamlessly melds it with the gluten-free and Paleo-inspired diet.”

1) This book is stunning  – as well as being an amazing cook with over two decades of experience in traditional and modern patisserie baking, Jenni is also a very good photographer. Almost every recipe has a photo, which I love, and they capture the mood and the story behind the desserts perfectly. You really do want to lick some of the pages 😉

2) My favourite thing about the book is that it is designed to allow you ‘to choose your own adventure’ when making pastries. It provides the basics and essentials on how to create a perfect *insert dessert type* as well as variations on fillings, frostings and glazes to go with it. You can make any given dessert in the book as is or you can choose to use a basic tart crust from page 105, then fill it with the banana pastry cream from page 46 and top with vanilla marshmallows from page 222. I absolutely love this kind of structure and design because that’s how I like to use recipes – make my own adaptations.

3) As well providing handy guides to gluten-free and paleo friendly baking ingredients and equipment, the book covers the following: fillings, frostings, glazes, choux pastry (yep, you can make profiteroles),  tarts (I love the look of the citron tart), cakes (they are all amazing), cookies, ice-cream and frozen desserts (including waffle cones), marshmallows (my inner child is so happy), and savoury pastries (best looking paleo panini bread I have seen).  Seriously, there is enough content to keep me baking for a year.

4) Other cool bits: step by step photos at the back of the book (very important if you’re a novice cook or you simply need to know what the consistency should look like or what shape something needs to be before it goes in the oven etc); measurements are provided in cups and grams and conversion tables are provided at the back; temperatures are in both Fahrenheit and Celsius; I love the Build Your Own *insert dessert* check lists at the end of each chapter.

5) My Paleo Patisserie comes out on April 7th in the US & Australia. You can pre-oder it on Barnes & Noble or Amazon in the US, Booktopia in OZ, on Amazon.co.uk (released 16 April in the UK) and it should be available in other countries. More info about the book here.

It’s a must have patisserie/baking book for anyone following a gluten-free or a paleo diet. I actually think anyone would enjoy it. We all need a treat every now and then and what a better way to enjoy something sweet than when it’s made so elegantly and skilfully. It’s a culinary gem!

Maple Carrot Cake from My Paleo Patisserie

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Maple Carrot Cake from My Paleo Patisserie

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Assembly & Rest Time: 1 hour
Author: Jenni Hulet
Servings: 12
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Dessert
Print Pin Save
4.75 from 4 votes
Calories: 598kcal
For this recipe you will need three 6-inch (15-cm) round cake pans, as the recipe is written for that amount of batter. However, this amount of batter will also make one 9-inch (24-cm) round cake for a nice single-layer cake if desired.

Ingredients 

For the cake

  • ¼ cup palm shortening or ghee (46 g)
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 large egg white
  • 1 cup maple sugar or coconut sugar, firmly packed (200 g)
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • cups almond flour (350 g)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¾ teaspoon ginger powder
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut (40 g)
  • cup raisins (50 g)
  • cup pineapple chopped (60 g)
  • cup pecans chopped (40 g)
  • 3 medium carrots grated (260 g)
  • 1 Swiss Meringue Buttercream page 58 in the book or see below
  • 3 cups coconut flakes for garnish (170 g)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 325° F (163° C). Grease and line the cake pans with parchment paper circles cut to fit the pans.
  • Melt the shortening in a small saucepan over low heat, then set aside to cool. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the eggs, egg white, sugar, and lemon juice on medium-high speed for 15 minutes. The mixture should become thick and voluminous. Always beat it for the whole 15 minutes, though.
  • While the egg mixture is beating, whisk together the flour, spices, and baking soda in a large bowl till blended. Add the shredded coconut, raisins, pineapple, pecans, carrots, and melted shortening, then toss to combine.
  • When the egg mixture is ready, gently fold it into the flour mixture till completely incorporated. Divide the batter evenly among the prepared pans and bake for 30 to 35 minutes or till the tops spring back when gently pressed. (Bake for 35 to 40 minutes if using a 9-inch/24-cm round cake pan.)
  • Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for about 10 minutes. Loosen the edge of each cake with a sharp knife, then turn the cakes out onto a wire rack and let cool completely before frosting.
  • To assemble: Place the first cake layer on a plate or cake stand. Spread about a ¼-inch (6-mm)-thick layer of buttercream evenly over the cake. Place the second cake layer on top of the buttercream, then spread more buttercream on top. Finally, place the last cake layer, then frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining buttercream. You don’t need a super thick layer, but you want enough buttercream to press the coconut flakes into.
  • Scoop up handfuls of coconut flakes and gently press them into and all over the surface of the cake.
  • For best results, chill the cake, uncovered, for about 30 minutes to secure the coconut flakes. If needed, fill in gaps by placing a little frosting on the back of a coconut flake and secure it to the area.
  • This recipe yields one three-layer (6-inch/15-cm) round cake (serving 12 to 15).

Notes

The nutritional information is based on this recipe making 12 slices. You can make smaller slices if you wish. The recipe includes an estimate for the buttercream frosting, but actually macros may vary.

Nutrition

Calories: 598kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 43g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 72mg | Sodium: 132mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 2643IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 3mg
Keywords: healthy baking, Cake, Carrots, Paleo Desserts
Tried this recipe?Mention @cookedandloved or tag #cookedandloved
paleo_carrot_cake_recipe_urban_poser

Swiss Meringue Buttercream

This buttercream is light, not too sweet, and fairly easy to make, and it pipes beautifully. Because the eggs in the meringue are heated to 160°F (71°C), this is an ideal frosting for serving to kids and the elderly, as the eggs are not raw.

Ingredients

1 recipe Swiss Meringue (page 57 in the book or below)
1½ cups (270 g) palm shortening*, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (omit for flavor variations)

*To substitute ghee, use an equal amount by weight. If measuring by volume (cups), reduce the amount of fat used to 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons.

Yields about 3 cups (710 ml), enough to cover and fill one 6-inch (15-cm) round, two-layer cake. This recipe doubles nicely.

Method

  1. After making the Swiss meringue, switch to the paddle attachment on the stand mixer. (You can also use a hand mixer.) Add the shortening bit by bit, beating on medium-high speed till thick and smooth. Beat in the vanilla, if using.
  2. If the buttercream becomes loose and liquid, your meringue may not have been sufficiently cool when you added the shortening. Chill the mixture slightly in the fridge, then resume beating. It will emulsify eventually. If it curdles, the shortening may have been too cold. No worries! Don’t fret or throw it out; just keep beating! Beating the mixture fixes pretty much everything.

Note: This buttercream can be stored in a covered container in the fridge for several days or even frozen for a few months. Bring to room temperature and rewhip before using.

Swiss Meringue

This meringue is easy to make, and its lovely, velvety texture pipes well. The addition of cream of tartar helps to stabilize the whipped egg whites, makes the meringue more voluminous, and reduces the risk of overbeating. It can be omitted or replaced with an equal amount of lemon juice, but cream of tartar is preferable.

Swiss-Meringue-Recipe

Ingredients

3 large egg whites, room temperature
3/4 cup (180 ml) maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar or lemon juice
You will need a candy thermometer. Yields 5 cups (1.2 L).

Method

1. Combine all the ingredients in a large heatproof bowl. Place the bowl over a small or medium-sized saucepan with 2 inches (5 cm) of simmering water in it. It’s important that the bottom of the bowl does not touch the water. Heat the mixture till it reaches 160°F (71°C) on a candy thermometer, whisking constantly so the eggs don’t curdle or seize.

2. Remove from the heat and transfer the mixture to the bowl of a stand mixed fitted with a whisk attachment, or use a metal bowl and a hand mixer. Start whipping on low speed, gradually increasing to high over the course of 30 seconds. Continue to beat the mixture on high speed until stiff and completely cool. This could take up to 8 to 10 minutes, or longer if using a hand mixer.

Irena Macri
By Irena Macri

About the author: Hi, I’m Irena Macri. I share delicious recipes that I have cooked and loved. I am a published cookbook author, have been food blogging for over 10 years and have a Diploma in Nutrition. You will find many healthy recipes as well as my favourite comfort food. More about me here | Subscribe to my newsletter and freebies

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Comments

11 Comments
    1. Hi Petra,

      This recipe uses no grain based flours or processed sugar and the frosting is also non-dairy, which is why it can be labeled as ‘paleo’

  1. Does the cake need this much sweetner?? Would it be sweet enough if I used half a cup of maple syrup? Thanks

    1. I am sure you can use less. I guess it’s a rather large cake and once you work it out per single portion, it won’t feel as much.

  2. 4 stars
    Hi, Your recipe sounds amazing.I hope to try it soon. I am noticing that a lot of the Paleo recipes call for Palm Oil/Shortening. I hope you encourage people to use Palm that is sustainably harvested since it is killing orangutans at an alarming rate. Just a suggestion. Thanks for your beautiful post.

  3. Do you think it is possible to use a hand mixer for the cake portion? I saw you made a note that a hand mixer can be used for the meringue but you didn’t mention it for the cake. Hoping to make the cake this weekend!

    1. I will have to check the cookbook as it’s a guest recipe from The Urban Poser. I am sure you can use it for the cake mix as well, just wash it in between.

  4. 5 stars
    Thanks for introducting me to and reviewing this book. Looks amazing! I just ordered a copy from Book Depository for a great price. Can’t wait to start baking paleo yummies 😛

  5. 5 stars
    My meringue was beautiful!…..& then a min later it fell & wasn’t foamy or beautiful. What did i do wrong? Over cook or undercook? I confess i did not use a candy therm guess i will be getting one now! Lol thx for this awesome recipe

  6. 5 stars
    GUYS. This is just SO fabulous! For all who are curious, I made a third of the recipe because I didn’t want 3 cakes, just one. So I used a recipe converter to 1/3 the recipe and t fit into an 8×8 square pan beautifully. I must say, I was quite concerned once I mixed it all together because it looked REALLY weird. Mainly like whipped egg with some goodies mixed in but I was super pleasantly surprised to get an amazing cake! I had to chill it before it would come out of the pan (which was just fine, it tastes better cold anyway). I also didn’t have any palm shortening so I used coconut oil. Worked great in the cake but it totally wrecked my beautiful batch of swiss meringue (oh well). I also subbed the pecans for chopped almonds, the raisins for chopped dates, and the pineapple for chopped orange. All in all, wonderful recipe that I will most definitely make again and recommend to others.

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