Grain and Sugar-free Carrot Cake

Directions

CAKE:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  Grease 2 8-inch round cake pans with coconut oil.  Line the bottoms with parchment paper, and grease the paper.  If making cupcakes, set cupcake liners into muffin pans.  Set aside.

3.  In a medium mixing bowl, combine the almond flour, coconut flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt; whisk them together until completely combined.  Set aside.

4.  In a large bowl, using whisk attachment of electric mixer, whisk the coconut oil, brown coconut sugar, and maple syrup.  Add the vanilla extract and eggs, and beat until completely combined.  Beat in the coconut milk until completely combined.  Add the crushed pineapple and whisk at high speed for a few minutes, occasionally stopping mixer to scrape bowl.

5.  Add the dry ingredients from the medium bowl to the wet ingredients, and whisk at medium speed until completely combined, occasionally stopping the mixer to scrape the bowl.  The batter will be thick, not wet and runny.

6.  Add the carrots, raisins, and nuts to the batter and whisk at medium speed until completely combined.

7.  Transfer the batter evenly into the prepared pans.  Bake in hot oven for 50 - 60 minutes until cake tests done (no crumbs).  If making cupcakes, bake for 20 - 25 minutes.

8.  Remove from oven and cool on wire racks completely before removing cakes from pans and frosting them.  For cupcakes, allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then transfer them to wire racks to cool completely.

FROSTING

1.  In small bowl of electric mixer using whisk attachment, combine cream cheese and butter and beat until completely incorporated.

2.  Gradually add the maple syrup and vanilla extract to combine and then whisk at highest speed to make a creamy frosting.

ASSEMBLY (CAKE)

1.  Place 1 cake layer on plate or other flat surface.  Cover the top of the cake with frosting.

2.  Place the 2nd cake layer on on top of the frosting, and frost the tops and sides of the cake completely.

3.  Gently press the walnuts to the sides of the cake.  Add a few to center of the top of the cake.

ASSEMBLY (CUPCAKES)

1.  Frost the top of each cupcake.

2.  Gently press a few walnuts into the frosted top.