Protein Packed Carrot Cake
Serves: 6
Before we jump into our recipe today, I’d like to let you know that I will be doing a guest post on Don’t Eat Crap blog at 7pm tonight. Brianna, who is away on her honeymoon (CONGRATS!!), asked me to do a guest post on the importance of women and weight lifting. I have worked in the fitness industry for the last 6 years, so she thought I would be a good person to shed some light on this subject. So head over to Don’t Eat Crap tonight at 7pm to read about the importance of weight lifting, some weight lifting myths debunked, an example workout and more!!
Now, onto our recipe of the day, Protein Packed Carrot Cake. This recipe will satisfy your sweet tooth, yet won’t undo all those hard-earned hours spent lifting weights in the gym, I promise!
Today we will talk about some of the health benefits of carrots, since they are the star ingredient in this recipe! A few of the great benefits of eating this fit ingredient include: 1) it is full of antioxidants, 2) they can help clean your teeth by eliminating dirt and plaque from your tongue and gums, 3) they are high in carotenoids, which are shown to be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, 4) they improve vision and 5) studies are now showing that they may lower breast, ling and colon cancer! So, dig in!! Toss, them in salads, omelets, cake, protein shakes, etc!
With Cream Cheese Frosting and some Coconut Manna on the side!
Fit Ingredients
- 2 tbs ground flax (13g)
- 2 tbs coconut flour (14g)
- 1/2 c vanilla or unflavored protein powder (I used this one)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp cloves
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2c + 1 tbs liquid egg whites (150g)
- 1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
- 3/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp butter extract, optional
- 1/4 c (45g) S.F. maple syrup*
- 40 drops liquid stevia*
- 2 small carrots, shredded
- 1/4 c raisins (40g), optional
Frosting Options:
1) Cream Cheese Frosting: 5tbs whipped cream cheese (110g), sweetener to taste, vanilla/coconut extract (optional)
2) Greek Yogurt Frosting: 5 tbs greek yogurt (71g), sweetener to taste, vanilla/coconut extract (optional)
3) Coconut Manna Drizzle: 5 tbs coconut manna, melted
*If using cream cheese or greek yogurt frosting, I would use maple syrup OR stevia since the frosting is sweet. If using no frosting or coconut manna drizzle, I would use both maple syrup and stevia. I made the cake using both maple syrup and stevia, then had a slice with cream cheese frosting and one half plain/half with coconut manna and when it had the frosting it was soooo sweet I could barely eat it! But when eaten plain or with coconut it was perfect! The choice is yours though!!
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- 8 inch cake pan
- non stick spray
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Directions
Pre heat your oven to 330 degrees. Spray your cake pan with non stick spray. Mix protein powder, flax, coconut flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and baking powder together in a bowl. In a separate bowl mix egg whites, maple syrup (if using), stevia (if using), vanilla extract, butter extract (if using) and applesauce. Mix half of your dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Then mix in remaining half. Fold in your carrots and raisins (if using). Pour batter into pan and bake for 28-30 minutes.
For your frosting, mix either cream cheese OR greek yogurt with sweetener and extract to taste. Refrigerate until ready to frost cake.
If using coconut manna, melt in a microwave safe bowl (about 20 seconds) after cake has cooled. Then drizzle over your cake.
The cake came out so moist and delicious!! The flavors all worked so well together! My only issue, as mentioned above, was using stevia AND maple syrup in the cake when I ate it frosted…it was too sweet for my taste buds, but some may love it!! Personally, I found it to be absolutely AMAZINGLY delicious with the coconut manna drizzled over it! It really added another layer to the flavors and helped balance everything out! It was unbelievable!
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Nutrition: (1/6) Plain Cake:
Calories: 99.1, Protein: 9.5g, Carbs: 13.1g, Fat: 1.5g (1g Saturated), Sodium: 68mg, Fiber: 3g (Net Carbs: 10.1g)
*With Cream Cheese Frosting:
Calories: 150.1, Protein: 10.4g, Carbs: 14.8g, Fat: 5.8g (3g Saturated), Sodium: 149mg, Fiber: 4g (Net Carbs: 10.8g)
*With Greek Yogurt Frosting:
Calories: 139.4, Protein: 16.6g, Carbs: 15.9g, Fat: 1.5g (1g Saturated), Sodium: 94mg, Fiber: 4g (Net Carbs: 11.9g)
*With Coconut Manna Drizzle
Calories: 183.1, Protein: 10.3g, Carbs: 15.6g, Fat: 9.1g (7g Saturated), Sodium: 72mg, Fiber: 5g (Net Carbs: 10.6g)
The choice is yours! Use whichever topping (or eat it plain) fits into your nutrition program and satisfies your taste buds! Don’t forget, the fat/saturated fat in the coconut manna drizzle is healthy fats!
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