Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

Why You Need My Keto Carrot Cake Recipe
Ingredients & Substitutions
How To Make Keto Carrot Cake
My Recipe Tips
More Low Carb Cake Recipes
Keto Carrot Cake (Moist, Fluffy Recipe) Recipe card
Recipe Reviews

When I posted a keto cream cheese frosting recipe , and mentioned that I had plans to use it more, I got so many recipe requests. Many of you asked for the exact one I was planning: Keto carrot cake! So here it is — my low carb, sugar free carrot cake — just in time for spring around the corner. This ultra moist, spiced cake is the perfect keto dessert after a main course like glazed keto ham , and it’s tasty enough to serve your whole family, even if they aren’t low carb. Make this keto carrot cake recipe with me in less than an hour!

Why You Need My Keto Carrot Cake Recipe

Sweet and soft, with creamy, tangy frosting – This cake has super fluffy, moist layers packed with spiced flavor and grated carrots, all layered with smooth cream cheese frosting. Unlike many low carb versions, I even found a way to incorporate the pineapple and brown sugar flavors the classic version often has — without actually using either of those ingredients. 😉
Keto friendly and gluten free – My keto carrot cake has just 5.5 grams of net carbs per slice! And you’d never know by how it tastes.
Perfect for spring – Serve it for Easter , Passover, Mother’s Day , or any birthday celebration. Even my friends and family who aren’t keto rave about this cake!

Moist, fluffy frosted keto carrot cake on a platter with almond flour and Besti. - 3

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my low carb carrot cake recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour – This is my MVP of keto baking. It’s superfine, so it tastes and acts closer to all-purpose flour than many brands that turn out too coarse. Coconut flour won’t work here, as the cake will get too dry, and almond meal will be grainy.
Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – I created this sweetener because I hated how most brands made my baked goods dry, plus they left an aftertaste, resisted dissolving, and would crystallize later. Besti is sweet like sugar without any of these issues (and zero net carbs), but what I love most about it here is that it makes this keto carrot cake so incredibly moist. Notes on alternatives: You can check my sweetener conversion chart if you want to use plain allulose , which will have the same effect. This recipe does somewhat work with other brands of monk fruit or stevia (use the same chart above to convert), but be aware that virtually all these other sugar substitutes are erythritol-based, so they’ll make your cake more dry.
Shredded Carrots – Grate them fresh, because pre-shredded ones are too dry. Carrots are not keto friendly on their own, but are fine to use in recipes like this where the amount per serving is small.
Butter – I love this brand . You can use coconut oil for a dairy-free option, but it’s not quite the same.
Eggs – They hold the cake together. Flax eggs or another egg substitute for baking should work, but the cake will fall apart more easily.
Basic Flavor Boosters – Vanilla extract and cinnamon for their flavor, and sea salt to balance the sweetness. Feel free to add other warm spices, like nutmeg or ground ginger, if you like.
Optional Flavor Boosters – I add blackstrap molasses and this pineapple extract to replicate the flavor of brown sugar and pineapple commonly found in traditional carrot cake recipes, without any significant carb difference. (Yes, molasses is sugar, but the tiny amount here adds up to like a drop in each serving.) You can skip these add-ins, but they do improve the flavor. You can also replace 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Besti (above) with Besti Brown Sweetener to achieve that brown sugar flavor without molasses.
Baking Powder – I like this non-GMO brand . Don’t use baking soda, which is not the same.
Pecans – They go inside the keto carrot cake and also on top. I like these that come already chopped . Walnuts also work well.
Frosting – Double up my sugar free cream cheese frosting recipe to layer and top your cake.

Labeled ingredients: Carrots, almond flour, Besti sweetener, eggs, butter, baking powder, molasses, cinnamon, vanilla, pineapple extract, salt, pecans, and cream cheese frosting. - 4

How To Make Keto Carrot Cake

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

Cream the butter and Besti. Use a hand mixer to cream them together in a large bowl. I have this mixer and love the built-in storage, as well as the multiple speeds.
Beat in the other wet ingredients. Add the molasses, vanilla extract, pineapple extract, and eggs one at a time.

Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and sea salt. I like to use a whisk to break up any lumps.
Stir the wet and dry ingredients together. The batter will be pretty thick — this is normal.

Dry ingredients whisked together in a bowl. - 7

Wet and dry ingredients combined with a spatula. - 8

Add grated carrots and chopped pecans. Just fold them in.
Transfer the batter to two cake pans. Make sure to line the bottom with parchment paper first, then spoon the keto carrot cake batter into them and smooth the tops.
Bake until golden. The cake is ready when the top springs back, and a toothpick comes out clean. I usually cool them in the pan for ten minutes, then a wire rack afterward.

Grated carrots and chopped pecans folded into the batter. - 9

Baked sugar free carrot cake layers in springform pans. - 10

Make the frosting. While the cake layers bake, whip up my sugar free cream cheese frosting — make sure to double the recipe to have enough.
Layer, layer, layer. Once the layers reach room temperature, frost the bottom layer, stack the other on top, and frost again. You can frost the sides if you have enough frosting. Sprinkle with more crunchy pecans to finish!

Sugar free cream cheese frosting mixed in a bowl. - 11

Frosted keto carrot cake topped with pecans. - 12

Serving the finished keto carrot cake recipe. - 13

My Recipe Tips

The wet ingredients may separate if they sit for some time while you mix the dry ingredients. If this happens, just beat the wet ingredients again briefly before combining the wet and dry. Alternatively, you can whisk together the dry ingredients first.
To measure the flour, scoop into your measuring cup and level with a knife. Don’t pack it down, which will get you too much flour and a dry cake.
Pineapple extracts can vary in intensity, and some brands bake away. I use and recommend this brand that works well in this keto carrot cake recipe.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you go. You don’t want any chunks of butter or dry clumps in your cake.
You can grate the carrots fine or coarse, depending on your texture preference. I usually go with coarse for a heartier feel, but if you want a sturdier sugar free carrot cake, finely grated works best. This box grater I have is super sturdy and works great for both, or sometimes I use my food processor with the grating attachment.
Loosely pack the carrots when measuring. Don’t press them down, or you’ll have too much. Too much carrot can mess with the texture. You don’t usually need to drain them, but if they are very wet, I give them a squeeze before adding to the batter.
Use springform pans for easy release. Any cake pans you’ve got will work, but springform is easier. If you’re using regular pans and the edges are stuck after baking, just run a knife along the edge to release them after 10 minutes.
These precut parchment paper rounds are super convenient. I love them rounds because I don’t have to cut them and they lay flat.
Make sure your frosting is at room temperature. I like to make it ahead and store it in the fridge, but always let it come to room temp before using. It’s very stiff out of the fridge and can tear the delicate keto carrot cake.
Doubling my frosting makes enough for between the layers and the top. If you want to frost the sides, I recommend tripling my frosting recipe. (And if you end up with extra, it’s amazing on my keto chocolate mug cake !)
Want keto carrot cake muffins? You can find that version in my Easy Keto Cookbook . Or turn them into cupcakes by adding the frosting.

Slice of low carb carrot cake on a plate with a fork. - 15

More Low Carb Cake Recipes

If you like my keto carrot cake recipe, try some of my other low carb cakes this spring:

Recipe Video

Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see the ones I use.

3/4 cup Unsalted butter (softened; use coconut or ghee for paleo or dairy-free) ▢
3/4 cup Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend (or coconut sugar for paleo) ▢
1 tbsp Blackstrap molasses (optional) ▢
1 tsp Vanilla extract ▢
1/2 tsp Pineapple extract (optional) ▢
4 large Eggs (at room temperature) ▢
2 1/2 cups Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour ▢
2 tsp Baking powder ▢
2 tsp Cinnamon ▢
1/2 tsp Sea salt ▢
2 1/2 cups Carrots (grated, measured loosely packed after grating) ▢
1 1/2 cups Pecans (chopped; divided into 1 cup and 1/2 cup) ▢
2 recipes Sugar-free cream cheese frosting (double the frosting recipe; for paleo or dairy-free, omit or use a coconut cream based frosting instead) ▢

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line two 9 in (23 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper. (Use springform pans if you have them.) Grease the bottom and sides.
In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the butter and Besti, until fluffy. Beat in the molasses (if using), vanilla extract, and pineapple extract (if using). Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Set aside.
In another bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients.
Fold in the grated carrots, then 1 cup (99 g) of the chopped pecans. Reserve the remaining 1/2 cup (48.5 g) of pecans for later.
Transfer the batter evenly among the two prepared baking pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes , swapping the positions of the pans halfway through, until the cakes are golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes , then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, make the keto cream cheese frosting here . (Double the recipe by entering “12” into the box for # of servings on that page.)
When the cake has cooled to room temperature, place the bottom layer on a plate or cake stand. Frost, then add the top layer and frost again. Top with the remaining chopped pecans.

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Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 slice, or 1/16 of the entire recipe

Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid common pitfalls, like dry cake, soggy carrots, or stiff frosting. I also have notes that make this recipe easier, and a variation to make muffins.
Store or make ahead: I almost always make this keto carrot cake the day before! Just cover it gently and keep in the fridge. It’s best within a couple days to serve for an occasion, but leftovers may last up to a week.
Freeze: Freeze the cake uncovered first, until the frosting is solid. Then, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Note on nutrition info: This cake is very rich, so I made the serving size pretty small. The nutrition facts here do include the frosting, based on a doubled amount of my sugar-free cream cheese frosting recipe . You can enjoy a larger serving if it fits your macros (and I did slice it a bit larger for my photos), but I find just a thin slice very filling and satisfying!

📖 Want more recipes like this? Find this one and many more in my Spring Ebook Bundle !

I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy .

Add Your NotesYour Notes

Keto Carrot Cake

Free Printable: Low Carb & Keto Food List

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
The Basic Keto Meal Formula
Understanding Macros
Keto Food Swaps
Keto Food List
Electrolyte Basics
Keto Diet Types
Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?
Recipe Reviews

Even though I have a great guide to starting a keto diet , people often ask me for a quick keto cheat sheet they can use. That’s why I created this simple keto diet cheat sheet , so that you can have all the info you need handy. We’ll cover the basic keto formula for building meals, foods to eat and to avoid, delicious keto swaps for high-carb foods, electrolyte basics, and 4 ways to follow the keto lifestyle.

You can keep reading to view this info, or download my keto cheat sheet printable pdf to print out or save ad-free on any device (plus the pdf has more details!).

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 17

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
Keto food swaps (60+ foods) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System + EBooks (Only $37)

The Basic Keto Meal Formula

Eating keto doesn’t have to be complicated! While there are plenty of delicious easy keto recipes to choose from, you don’t even have to cook from a recipe to get started.

Simply follow the keto cheat sheet formula of protein + veggie + fat for your meals.

Be sure to choose a moderate amount of protein, only low carb vegetables (mostly ones that grow above ground), and generous fat to attain an optimal macro ratio. That’s approximately 60-75% of calories from fat, 20-25% protein, and 5-10% from carbohydrates. The table below will give you ideas for what to choose.

Pick A Protein	Pick A Veggie	Add Fat
Beef Chicken Pork Eggs Lamb Turkey Fish Shellfish Protein powder Venison	Cauliflower Broccoli Zucchini Leafy Greens Cucumbers Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Asparagus Radishes Bell Peppers Jicama Celery	Butter Avocado Oil Cheese Bacon Avocado Lard Ghee Mayo Nuts MCT Oil

Understanding Macros

Macros are macronutrients for short. They include fat, protein, and carbohydrates.

You can calculate your own macros using the macro calculator , but the macro keto cheat sheet below will explain how to look at macros when following a keto lifestyle.

Carbs Are A Limit.

Keeping carbs low is what gets you into ketosis and keeps you there. Ketosis means that you’re using fat as your primary energy source instead of sugar, and requires keeping carbs very low.

A good starting point is 20-25 grams net carbs per day, but you can experiment after a few weeks to see if your body stays in ketosis at higher levels. People who are very active may be able to do more and stay in ketosis, up to around 50 grams per day.

“Carbs are a limit” means that you set a limit for how many carbs to eat per day and don’t exceed it. You don’t have to hit that limit, so if you’re under that’s okay, just don’t go over. Ideally most of your carbs would come from low carb vegetables, and if you’re eating enough veggies, you’ll usually get close to the limit naturally.

A common misconception is that reaching ketosis requires a certain macro ratio, but it’s really only restricting your carb intake that gets you there [ * ]. In the absence of sufficient carbs to use as energy, the body will switch to using fat as fuel. This is called the metabolic state of ketosis.

Protein Is A Goal.

Protein is made up of amino acids, the building blocks of all our cells. It’s a crucial for keeping our muscles strong and for many cellular functions [ * ].

“Protein is a goal” means that you always want to eat enough protein to reach the goal each day, but not exceed it too much. You want enough for your needs, but excess protein can trigger gluconeogenesis, which is protein being converted to sugar [ * ] and can kick you out of ketosis.

Fat Is A Lever.

Fat is the primary macronutrient in a keto lifestyle, because being in ketosis means that fat is your primary fuel source. Fat as a fuel source will come from your food, and if you are losing weight, from your body.

A big advantage of a keto lifestyle is the high fat intake. It keeps you full and satisfied, making it easier to stick to, and using it as the primary fuel source makes it easier on your body to burn body fat, with a lower chance of breaking down your muscle (provided you get enough protein).

Aside from reaching your protein goal and limiting your carbs, the remainder of your calories on a keto diet comes from fat.

Don’t fear fat – it’s your main energy source on keto, and getting enough of it trains your body to use fat for fuel instead of sugar. That means that as long as you are not overdoing your overall calorie intake, you’ll efficiently burn your body fat for fuel as well.

“Fat is a lever” means that you can increase or decrease your fat intake depending on your goals and hunger levels. Increase it (along with exercise) to gain muscle, or decrease it to lose weight.

Keto Food Swaps

One of my favorite challenges is creating recipes, or just discovering, keto food swaps. These are delicious keto replacements for traditionally high-carb or high-sugar foods.

So, I created this keto diet cheat sheet with all the swaps in one place! I also have more keto food swaps in my Easy Keto Cookbook .

Keto Swaps For Breakfast

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Pancakes	Almond flour pancakes or coconut flour pancakes
Oatmeal	Keto oatmeal with hemp seeds
Cinnamon rolls	Fathead cinnamon rolls
Cereal	Keto nut granola
Muffins	Almond flour muffins or coconut flour muffins
Donuts	Almond flour donuts
Scones	Almond flour scones
High-sugar smoothies	Smoothie with berries or avocado
Hash browns	Cauliflower hash browns
Breakfast casserole	Breakfast casserole with no potatoes
Egg whites	Whole eggs
Turkey bacon	Bacon
Waffles	Chaffles

Keto Swaps For Bread

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Bagels	Fathead bagels
English muffin	Almond flour English muffin
White bread	Keto white bread
Multigrain bread	Coconut flour bread with seeds
Tortillas for wraps	Coconut flour tortillas
Corn taco shells	Cheddar cheese taco shells
Burger buns	Oopsie rolls , portobello mushroom caps
Breadsticks	Cauliflower breadsticks
Biscuits	Almond flour biscuits
Cornbread	Almond flour cornbread
Croutons	Parmesan crisps
Rice	Cauliflower rice , konjac rice

Keto Swaps For Meals & Side Dishes

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Breaded wings	Crispy air fryer wings (unbreaded)
Low-fat meat & poultry	High-fat cuts, or cook low-fat cuts with fat
Mashed potatoes	Mashed cauliflower
Roasted potatoes	Roasted or fried radishes
Tacos	Taco salad
Pizza	Fathead crust , chicken crust , or cauliflower crust pizza
Lasagna	Eggplant lasagna
Potato salad	Cauliflower “potato” salad
French fries	Jicama , rutabaga , or zucchini fries
Tater tots	Cauliflower tots
Wraps	Lettuce wraps , almond flour tortillas
Sushi	Naruto-style or homemade rice-free sushi
Breaded chicken or fish	Breaded cuts with almond flour or pork rinds
Spaghetti	Zoodles , spaghetti squash , shirataki noodles, kelp noodles

Keto Swaps For Snacks & Sauces

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Nachos	Cheese crisps
High-sugar fruit	Berries & other keto fruits
Crackers	Almond flour crackers
Hummus	Cauliflower hummus
Soft pretzels	Fathead pretzels
Popcorn	Puffed cheese
Granola bars	Grain-free granola bars
Jam	Sugar-free berry chia jam
Sweet fruity yogurt	Full-fat plain Greek yogurt with berries
Sweet salad dressing	Ranch , blue cheese , or plain vinaigrette
Ketchup	Mustard and/or sugar-free ketchup
BBQ sauce	Sugar-free BBQ sauce
Sweetened peanut butter	Natural, sugar-free nut butters
Light mayo	Avocado oil mayo
Maple syrup	Sugar-free, maple flavored syrup
Potato chips	Zucchini chips , pepperoni chips , pork rinds

Keto food swaps - snacks and sauces - 21

Keto Swaps For Cooking & Baking

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Sugar	Monk fruit or allulose
Powdered sugar	Powdered monk fruit or allulose
White flour	Almond or Coconut flour (use in tested recipes)
Making baked goods soft/chewy	Xanthan gum, flax seed meal, psyllium husk powder
Breadcrumbs	Pork rinds or almond flour
Margarine	Butter, coconut oil, or ghee
Vegetable oil	Olive or avocado oil
Bananas	Banana extract
Chocolate chips	Sugar-free chocolate chips
Cornstarch or flour roux	Xanthan gum or gelatin powder (used at the end)
Simple syrup	Dissolve monk fruit allulose blend in water over heat

Keto food swaps - baking and cooking - 22

Keto Swaps For Drinks

Instead Of This…	Eat This
Lemonade	Water with lemon
Soda	Flavored sparkling water
Milk	Almond milk, coconut milk, heavy cream
Latte	Butter coffee
Coffee creamer	Heavy cream
Sweet wine	Dry wine
Beer	Ultra light beer
Mixed drinks	Hard liquor with soda + lemon

If you’re looking specifically for keto alcohol options, browse the full keto alcohol guide .

Keto Food List

When looking for a keto cheat sheet printable, the most-requested information is a keto food list.

The great thing is that keto doesn’t have to feel restrictive. It’s incredibly satisfying and there’s such a wide variety of foods you can eat!

Keto foods to eat and avoid summary - 24

Foods To Eat On Keto

Leafy greens – Such as spinach, chard, and lettuce.
Above-ground veggies – Such as peppers, zucchini, and cauliflower.
Full-fat cream & cheese – Such as heavy cream, sour cream, and full-fat hard cheeses.
Natural meats – Such as beef, lamb, and pork.
Berries – Such as raspberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
Avocados
Unsweetened nut milks – Such as almond milk and coconut milk.
Almond flour and coconut flour
Eggs
Healthy fats – Such as coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil and butter.

Foods To Avoid On Keto

White flour & sugar
Rice & grains – Such as barley, wheat, and corn.
Milk & yogurt – Such as fruit on the bottom yogurt, sweetened Greek yogurt, and all milk.
Cereal
Processed food – Such as granola bars, candy
Most fruit – Such as apples, bananas, and grapes
Hydrogenated fats – Such as vegetable oil, soybean oil, and margarine
Sweetened beverages & condiments – Such as soda, ketchup, and sweet dressings
Starchy veggies – Such as peas, carrots, and beets.
Potatoes – Such as sweet potatoes and white potatoes.

That’s the short keto diet cheat sheet version of all the keto food categories, but I recommend downloading the full Keto Cheat Sheet System. It includes a super detailed printable keto food list with over 100 items, including 2 color-coded pages with net carb counts, along with 6 more pages of keto cheat sheets:

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 25

Get The Keto Cheat Sheet System PDF (Only $37)

Electrolyte Basics

Getting enough electrolytes is crucial for anyone, but especially so on a keto diet. The reason is that ketosis has a diuretic effect, which increases excretion of water and electrolytes, especially sodium [ * ]. This is often the cause of the keto flu.

For more details on electrolytes and avoiding keto flu, check out the full keto flu guide here .

The important thing to know about electrolytes is that replenishing them will keep keto flu away and keep your body functioning well. I always recommend an electrolyte drink and whole food sources of anything your body needs before resorting to supplements, so I made a list of what to eat to get each of the 3 major electrolytes – sodium, magnesium and potassium.

Here’s your keto diet cheat sheet for getting electrolytes from food:

Sodium	Magnesium	Potassium
Bone broth Boullion cubes Bacon Salted nuts Pickles	Seaweed Seeds Nuts Avocado Leafy greens	Potassium chloride Avocado Bone broth Spinach Broccoli Mushrooms Beef Pork

Keto Diet Types

People follow a keto lifestyle for different reasons. Some do it just to lose weight, others are after better overall health, increased energy, and reduced inflammation.

Strictly speaking, the defining factor of a keto diet is the metabolic state of ketosis, which is achieved by restricting carbs. However, many people (myself included) also reduce or eliminate processed, inflammatory, or low-nutrient foods.

Below is your keto cheat sheet summary of the different ways that people follow keto. You choose what works best for your goals and lifestyle!

Strict Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, count all calories and macros, and eat clean, unprocessed foods.
Lazy Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, and track only net carbs OR eat keto foods without tracking.
Dirty Keto – Up to 20-30g net carbs daily, with “if it fits your macros” approach including processed foods.
Low Carb – Up to 50-100g net carbs daily, less strict.

For a more detailed listing of these different types of keto with pros and cons, grab the Easy Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF below!

Want The Keto Cheat Sheet Printable PDF System?

Get all this information and MORE in convenient printer-friendly format – 13 cheat sheet pages you can take with you anywhere or keep in your kitchen, plus 4 recipe cookbooks! Includes:

Keto food list (230+ foods) – Super detailed & color-coded, with net carb counts, so you’ll know exactly what to eat.
Foods to avoid on keto – Detailed and specific list so that you know exactly what to watch out for.
Macros cheat sheet – Explains everything you need to know about macros to succeed on keto.
Keto food swaps (60+ swaps) – Covers virtually every food you love, so you don’t have to miss out!
Keto meal formula – With specific food ideas, so it’s easy to mix-and-match.
Keto flu guide – Understand what it is and exactly how to avoid it.
Electrolyte cheat sheet – With whole food ideas + bonus keto tips.
Keto Diet Types – Summary of 4 ways to do keto, so you can choose what fits you best.
FOUR (4!) Keto Swaps Recipe EBooks – Dozens of recipes to replace bread, rice, potatoes, pasta, desserts, and other carbs you’d otherwise miss.

Keto Cheat Sheet System - printable pdf's and ebooks - 26

Get The Printable Keto Cheat Sheet System (75 pages, Only $37!)

Keto Carrot Cake (Moist, Fluffy Recipe)

My best keto carrot cake recipe! This moist, fluffy cake with almond flour is low carb and sugar free, but tastes like the regular kind.

Scan this QR code with your phone’s camera for the full recipe, including tips, step-by-step photos, and storage, or to save it to your account. You can also find it at: https://www.wholesomeyum.com/recipes/low-carb-keto-sugar-free-carrot-cake-recipe/

Ingredients

3/4 cup Unsalted butter (softened; use coconut or ghee for paleo or dairy-free)
3/4 cup Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend (or coconut sugar for paleo)
1 tbsp Blackstrap molasses (optional)
1 tsp Vanilla extract
1/2 tsp Pineapple extract (optional)
4 large Eggs (at room temperature)
2 1/2 cups Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour
2 tsp Baking powder
2 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Sea salt
2 1/2 cups Carrots (grated, measured loosely packed after grating)
1 1/2 cups Pecans (chopped; divided into 1 cup and 1/2 cup)
2 recipes Sugar-free cream cheese frosting (double the frosting recipe; for paleo or dairy-free, omit or use a coconut cream based frosting instead)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Line two 9 in (23 cm) round cake pans with parchment paper. (Use springform pans if you have them.) Grease the bottom and sides.
In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to cream together the butter and Besti, until fluffy. Beat in the molasses (if using), vanilla extract, and pineapple extract (if using). Beat in the eggs, one at a time. Set aside.
In another bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and sea salt. Stir the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients.
Fold in the grated carrots, then 1 cup (99 g) of the chopped pecans. Reserve the remaining 1/2 cup (48.5 g) of pecans for later.
Transfer the batter evenly among the two prepared baking pans. Bake for 25-30 minutes , swapping the positions of the pans halfway through, until the cakes are golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Let the cakes cool in the pans for 10 minutes , then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Meanwhile, make the keto cream cheese frosting here . (Double the recipe by entering “12” into the box for # of servings on that page.)
When the cake has cooled to room temperature, place the bottom layer on a plate or cake stand. Frost, then add the top layer and frost again. Top with the remaining chopped pecans.

Maya’s Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 slice, or 1/16 of the entire recipe

Tips: Check out my recipe tips above to help you avoid common pitfalls, like dry cake, soggy carrots, or stiff frosting. I also have notes that make this recipe easier, and a variation to make muffins.
Store or make ahead: I almost always make this keto carrot cake the day before! Just cover it gently and keep in the fridge. It’s best within a couple days to serve for an occasion, but leftovers may last up to a week.
Freeze: Freeze the cake uncovered first, until the frosting is solid. Then, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight.
Note on nutrition info: This cake is very rich, so I made the serving size pretty small. The nutrition facts here do include the frosting, based on a doubled amount of my sugar-free cream cheese frosting recipe . You can enjoy a larger serving if it fits your macros (and I did slice it a bit larger for my photos), but I find just a thin slice very filling and satisfying!

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Why You Need My Keto Carrot Cake Recipe
Ingredients & Substitutions
How To Make Keto Carrot Cake
My Recipe Tips
More Low Carb Cake Recipes
Keto Carrot Cake (Moist, Fluffy Recipe) Recipe card
Recipe Reviews

Why You Need My Keto Carrot Cake Recipe

Sweet and soft, with creamy, tangy frosting – This cake has super fluffy, moist layers packed with spiced flavor and grated carrots, all layered with smooth cream cheese frosting. Unlike many low carb versions, I even found a way to incorporate the pineapple and brown sugar flavors the classic version often has — without actually using either of those ingredients. 😉
Keto friendly and gluten free – My keto carrot cake has just 5.5 grams of net carbs per slice! And you’d never know by how it tastes.
Perfect for spring – Serve it for Easter , Passover, Mother’s Day , or any birthday celebration. Even my friends and family who aren’t keto rave about this cake!

Moist, fluffy frosted keto carrot cake on a platter with almond flour and Besti. - 34

Ingredients & Substitutions

Here I explain the best ingredients for my low carb carrot cake recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card .

Wholesome Yum Blanched Almond Flour – This is my MVP of keto baking. It’s superfine, so it tastes and acts closer to all-purpose flour than many brands that turn out too coarse. Coconut flour won’t work here, as the cake will get too dry, and almond meal will be grainy.
Besti Monk Fruit Allulose Blend – I created this sweetener because I hated how most brands made my baked goods dry, plus they left an aftertaste, resisted dissolving, and would crystallize later. Besti is sweet like sugar without any of these issues (and zero net carbs), but what I love most about it here is that it makes this keto carrot cake so incredibly moist. Notes on alternatives: You can check my sweetener conversion chart if you want to use plain allulose , which will have the same effect. This recipe does somewhat work with other brands of monk fruit or stevia (use the same chart above to convert), but be aware that virtually all these other sugar substitutes are erythritol-based, so they’ll make your cake more dry.
Shredded Carrots – Grate them fresh, because pre-shredded ones are too dry. Carrots are not keto friendly on their own, but are fine to use in recipes like this where the amount per serving is small.
Butter – I love this brand . You can use coconut oil for a dairy-free option, but it’s not quite the same.
Eggs – They hold the cake together. Flax eggs or another egg substitute for baking should work, but the cake will fall apart more easily.
Basic Flavor Boosters – Vanilla extract and cinnamon for their flavor, and sea salt to balance the sweetness. Feel free to add other warm spices, like nutmeg or ground ginger, if you like.
Optional Flavor Boosters – I add blackstrap molasses and this pineapple extract to replicate the flavor of brown sugar and pineapple commonly found in traditional carrot cake recipes, without any significant carb difference. (Yes, molasses is sugar, but the tiny amount here adds up to like a drop in each serving.) You can skip these add-ins, but they do improve the flavor. You can also replace 1/4 to 1/2 cup of Besti (above) with Besti Brown Sweetener to achieve that brown sugar flavor without molasses.
Baking Powder – I like this non-GMO brand . Don’t use baking soda, which is not the same.
Pecans – They go inside the keto carrot cake and also on top. I like these that come already chopped . Walnuts also work well.
Frosting – Double up my sugar free cream cheese frosting recipe to layer and top your cake.

How To Make Keto Carrot Cake

I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card .

Cream the butter and Besti. Use a hand mixer to cream them together in a large bowl. I have this mixer and love the built-in storage, as well as the multiple speeds.
Beat in the other wet ingredients. Add the molasses, vanilla extract, pineapple extract, and eggs one at a time.

Creamed butter and Besti in a bowl. - 36

Mix the dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix together the almond flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and sea salt. I like to use a whisk to break up any lumps.
Stir the wet and dry ingredients together. The batter will be pretty thick — this is normal.

Dry ingredients whisked together in a bowl. - 38

Wet and dry ingredients combined with a spatula. - 39

Add grated carrots and chopped pecans. Just fold them in.
Transfer the batter to two cake pans. Make sure to line the bottom with parchment paper first, then spoon the keto carrot cake batter into them and smooth the tops.
Bake until golden. The cake is ready when the top springs back, and a toothpick comes out clean. I usually cool them in the pan for ten minutes, then a wire rack afterward.

Grated carrots and chopped pecans folded into the batter. - 40

Baked sugar free carrot cake layers in springform pans. - 41

Make the frosting. While the cake layers bake, whip up my sugar free cream cheese frosting — make sure to double the recipe to have enough.
Layer, layer, layer. Once the layers reach room temperature, frost the bottom layer, stack the other on top, and frost again. You can frost the sides if you have enough frosting. Sprinkle with more crunchy pecans to finish!

Sugar free cream cheese frosting mixed in a bowl. - 42

Frosted keto carrot cake topped with pecans. - 43

Serving the finished keto carrot cake recipe. - 44

My Recipe Tips

The wet ingredients may separate if they sit for some time while you mix the dry ingredients. If this happens, just beat the wet ingredients again briefly before combining the wet and dry. Alternatively, you can whisk together the dry ingredients first.
To measure the flour, scoop into your measuring cup and level with a knife. Don’t pack it down, which will get you too much flour and a dry cake.
Pineapple extracts can vary in intensity, and some brands bake away. I use and recommend this brand that works well in this keto carrot cake recipe.
Scrape down the sides of the bowl as you go. You don’t want any chunks of butter or dry clumps in your cake.
You can grate the carrots fine or coarse, depending on your texture preference. I usually go with coarse for a heartier feel, but if you want a sturdier sugar free carrot cake, finely grated works best. This box grater I have is super sturdy and works great for both, or sometimes I use my food processor with the grating attachment.
Loosely pack the carrots when measuring. Don’t press them down, or you’ll have too much. Too much carrot can mess with the texture. You don’t usually need to drain them, but if they are very wet, I give them a squeeze before adding to the batter.
Use springform pans for easy release. Any cake pans you’ve got will work, but springform is easier. If you’re using regular pans and the edges are stuck after baking, just run a knife along the edge to release them after 10 minutes.
These precut parchment paper rounds are super convenient. I love them rounds because I don’t have to cut them and they lay flat.
Make sure your frosting is at room temperature. I like to make it ahead and store it in the fridge, but always let it come to room temp before using. It’s very stiff out of the fridge and can tear the delicate keto carrot cake.
Doubling my frosting makes enough for between the layers and the top. If you want to frost the sides, I recommend tripling my frosting recipe. (And if you end up with extra, it’s amazing on my keto chocolate mug cake !)
Want keto carrot cake muffins? You can find that version in my Easy Keto Cookbook . Or turn them into cupcakes by adding the frosting.

Slice of low carb carrot cake on a plate with a fork. - 46