Gluten Free Vanilla Almond Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

Food could sincerely be an entirely new love language. Aside from the other ways people express their affection, making food for that special someone, or someones, is truly one of the greatest pleasures in life. At least for me. It’s a love that was instilled in me and my sister at a very young age by our mother, who takes her southern roots to heart whenever anyone new walks in the door or someone expresses the tiniest hint of hunger. Food is where the home is and where the heart can share its deepest and most inexpressible fondness for others. This gluten free carrot cake is one of those simple, humble desserts that will always remind me of a smile on my papa’s face and the way he exclaims “oooh!” when presented with the prospect of receiving a piece of this cake. There are certainly other desserts he likes, and others still that share these wonderful associations for my mother, grandmother, sister, and partner. These are the memories and moments we bakers live for.

But to not wax too poetic, this gluten free carrot cake is also just sublime. The rustic carrot, rough and tumble out of the garden and bearing an unabashedly vibrant hue, makes it’s debut as vegetable debutant in this high-rise of a cake, decked with the pillowiest cream cheese buttercream. The recipe was inspired by a cookbook we used to use quite often when getting our feet under us after the first Celiac diagnosis, and has since blossomed into a more personalized, decorative recipe that is my go-to for any of my root vegetable needs. The cake itself is intensely carroty, supported by the earthy density of almond and flaxseed meals, bound together by half a dozen eggs. It’s not spiced or heavy, but remains light and ethereal with a healthy splash of vanilla.

I love making this cake a show-stopper, so I go for the 4 layer option, though the recipe below is written for the 2-layer option, leaving you the choice to level up or stay at “just the right size.” Whatever you’re in the mood for (and have time for), it’s up to you. The cream cheese buttercream is just sweet enough to complement the dolled-up layers for a truly heavenly slice. Be aware that if you’re doing the 4-tier option, those slices are quite a bit larger than anticipated, so go thinner than you normally would (though a certain someone of mine ate the accidentally-massive slice I handed him with no regrets).  If you’re hoping to combine your diet with higher doses of fruits or veggies, also try out our hazelnut pear upside down cake, the pumpkin Swiss roll, or even persimmon pudding. Have fun with it, and enjoy!

Print Recipe

5 from 3 votes

Gluten Free Vanilla Almond Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Buttercream

The most decadent carrot cake you’ll ever make

Prep Time2 hours hrs

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Chilling time1 hour hr

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Keyword: buttercream, cake, carrot, carrot cake, cream cheese, easter, layer cake

Servings: 18 people

Calories: 500kcal

Author: Amelia Farber

Equipment

• Two 9-inch round cake pans
• Electric mixer
• Two cake pan strips
• Piping bags and tips
• Cake scraper

Ingredients

For cakes (this recipe makes 2 9-inch rounds – for the photographed 4-layer cake, double this recipe and make 2 cakes at a time:

• 1/2 Cup gluten free flour 1-1 mix with xanthan gum added (if it doesn't have xanthan gum, add 1/2 teaspoon xanthan gum)
• 2 1/2 Cups packed blanched almond flour
• 1/2 Cup golden flaxseed meal
• 3 Tbsp arrowroot starch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 6 eggs
• 1 1/4 Cups packed brown sugar
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 Cup melted salted butter
• 2 Cups finely grated carrots (use the smaller hole side of your box grater)

For the frosting:

• 3 Cups salted butter at room temperature
• 3 8-oz packages cream cheese
• 5-6 Cups powdered sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch salt

For the construction:

• 1 Cup toasted sliced almonds instructions below
• edible flowers optional

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit. Start soaking your cake pan strips (fabric that goes around the pan while wet to keep your cake edges from getting crusty/hard) so that they'll be ready to use. Grease two 9-inch round pans with butter or cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, almond meal, flaxseed meal, starch, salt, and baking powder, then set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, and butter until thick and blended. Finely grate the carrots using the smaller holes of a box grater. Using a spatula, stir the grated carrots into the wet ingredients until combined. Dump the dry ingredients into the wet and stir together with the spatula. Before pouring the batter into your pans, make sure you put on your cake pan strips! Then pour half of the batter into each of the two pans.
• Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting. If making the 4-tier cake, make the second two cake layers once the first two have cooked, using the same pans (invert the cakes once they've cooled slightly and remove from pan, then let them rest right side up on a plate or tray and wash the pans for a second use).
• While the cakes are cooling, make the frosting. Using an electric mixer, beat together your room temperature butter for 4-5 minutes until it's much lighter and fluffy, then add in the cream cheese and continue to beat until lighter and fluffy. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating in between each addition, then add vanilla and salt and continue to beat until smoother and fully blended.
• Once the cakes are completely cool, construct the cake! First, toast your sliced almonds. Pour almonds into a frying pan and heat over medium, stirring frequently, until most of the almonds have gone a touch golden and smell nutty, then remove from heat and pour onto a paper towel to cool. While they're cooling, place the first cake layer on a cake board or serving plate, and use about 3/4 cup of the frosting to coat the top. Place the next layer on top of the frosted first and repeat until all layers are in place and frosted. Then carefully crumb coat the entire cake with frosting (ensure that you have enough frosting leftover for the final coat). Freeze or refrigerate the entire cake for 30 minutes to an hour to set the layers, then remove and apply the final coat of frosting.
• Finally, press the toasted almonds into the side of the cake how you like, and add any edible flowers if using. Pipe any leftover buttercream on the top of the cake if desired. Then serve!

Tag @sisterssansgluten on Instagram if you snap a photo of your cake!

Food photography and styling by Amelia Farber