Yummy carrot cake

Our low-cost carrot cake recipe is great for special occasions or purely for those moments when you just need a good slice of cake. It freezes well, so can be made in advance.

Serves: 12

Time to make: 1 min , plus 1 hr cooling

Ingredients

More weights & measures

1 cup soft brown sugarlight brown cane sugarX

115g reduced-fat spread (I use Logical lite)

2 eggs

1 ½ cups self-raising flour

¼-½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup grated carrot

½ cup chopped dates

1 large or 2 small bananas, mashed

2 tablespoons apple purée

Topping

200g reduced-fat soft cheese

3 tablespoons icingfrostingX sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

3 kiwifruit, sliced

1 tablespoon zest of lemon lemon (optional)

mint sprigs (optional)

$AVER recipes were costed at $5 or below at the time of publication. We are mindful that seasonal and regional availability and price fluctuations occur - click here for healthy shopping tips for greater savings.

Instructions

Stay Awake

1 Preheat the oven to 180°C. Line the base of a 22cm square cake tin with baking paper and lightly spray with non-stick baking spray.

2 Cream the sugar and low-fat spread together until light and creamy. Beat in the eggs one at a time using a wooden spoon. Use a large metal spoon to fold in the flour, cinnamon and carrots. Add the dates, banana and apple sauce and stir until evenly mixed.

3 Spoon into the tin and bake for 35 minutes until slightly risen, golden brown and firm to touch. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from the tin. Cool completely before making the topping.

4 For the topping, combine all the ingredients and use to cover the surface of the cake. Cut into even-sized pieces. Top with slices of kiwifruit, lemon zest and mint.

HFG tip

Be sure to grate your carrot on a fine grater. This carrot cake freezes well un-iced.

Nutrition Info (per serve)

Calories 255 cal

Kilojoules 1065 kJ

Protein 4.2 g

Total fat 9.4 g

Saturated fat 2.5 g

Carbohydrates 38.5 g

Sugar 26.9 g

Dietary fibre 2.1 g

Sodium 200 mg

Calcium 100 mg

Iron 0.7 mg

Note: This nutrition analysis is a guide only. Nutrition composition will vary depending on the exact ingredients used. See our guides on your optimal daily nutrition intake, and supermarket shopping.