Healthy Carrot Bread

An easy recipe for a moist Healthy Carrot Bread made with whole wheat pastry flour and lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup. Serve the carrot loaf plain or top it with a light ricotta icing for a special treat!

Baked carrot desserts are always so popular in the spring and though this Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting is one of our all-time favorite desserts, I wanted to share this delicious recipe for a Healthy Carrot Bread made without refined sugars.

This healthier carrot loaf cake is flavourful, lightly sweetened, tender and moist. It's simple to make and is a great addition to an Easter or Mother's Day brunch.

How to Make it

This carrot quick bread is made healthier by using wholesome ingredients such as whole wheat pastry flour, fresh carrots, yogurt and a touch of pure maple syrup.

Here's an overview of the ingredients and steps needed to make this recipe. You can see the exact ingredient amounts in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Ingredients Overview:

• Whole wheat pastry flour. You can also use a 50/50 blend of whole wheat flour and all-purpose flour.
• Baking soda and baking powder: To help the bread rise.
• Ground cinnamon and nutmeg: These warm spices add so much flavor to this bread.
• Salt: Just a touch helps to enhance the flavours.
• Carrots
• Eggs: Need to be at room temperature. 
• Yogurt: Used to add moisture. You can use a plain or Greek yogurt. Sour cream also works.
• Pure maple syrup: Used to naturally sweeten this carrot bread recipe.
• Oil: Any light tasting oil will do. You can use vegetable, canola, grapeseed or melted coconut oil.
• Pure vanilla extract: For added flavour.

Steps Overview:

1. Place a rack in the centre of your oven and preheat the oven. Grease and flour one 9x5x3-inch loaf pan or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the two longer side to make it easier to lift the loaf out of the pan.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
3. In a separate medium bowl, add the eggs and lightly whisk. To the whisked eggs, add the yogurt, maple syrup, oil, vanilla extract and grated carrots. Stir the wet ingredients until well mixed. 
4. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until just combined.
5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake. With a toothpick or a cake tester, check to see if the bread is done at 40 minutes, if the toothpick comes out clean or with just a couple of crumbs the bread is done, if not, check again in 3 to 5 minutes. Mine took 40 minutes to bake.
6. Let the loaf cool in the pan on a cooling rack for about 15 minutes then remove it from the pan and let cool directly on the wire rack. 

Variations:

Here are some ways you can vary this carrot bread to suit your preferences:

• You can add shredded sweetened coconut for added texture and sweetness.
• Add raisins for a bit more sweetness.
• My favourite add-in would be walnuts, they're great for added texture and add a nice crunch in this moist bread. I would stick to 3/4 cup and lightly toast them before folding them into the batter at the end.

Serving Suggestions

If desired, top the carrot loaf cake with ricotta cheese icing or use this cream cheese frosting, just use half of the amounts indicated in the frosting recipe.

Since I had a tub of ricotta cheese in my refrigerator and I was going to be serving the carrot bread for dessert, I decided to top it with a lightly sweetened ricotta based icing.

But a light dusting of powdered sugar is sufficient to dress up the carrot bread and turn it into a light and simple dessert.

Or serve it plain with a smear of butter for a breakfast the whole family can enjoy.

Storage Instructions

You can freeze this Healthy Carrot Bread (without the icing) for up to three months. Make sure to wrap it properly with plastic wrap and store it in an airtight container or food storage freezer bag.

Freeze it whole or by slicing it up and wrapping the slices individually. This way you can just take what you need from the freezer and keep the rest for another day.

If you enjoy quick breads as much as I do, be sure to check out this Zucchini Bread, it's one of my favorite spring and summer treats. And if you prefer to make healthy carrot muffins, check out this recipe for Whole Wheat Carrot Muffins, they're amazing!

Enjoy!

More Healthy Treats

• Pear, Date and Walnut Loaf
• Double Chocolate Banana Muffins
• Gingerbread Muffins
• Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Muffins

Healthy Carrot Bread

Author: Fida | Sweet and Savoury Pursuits

An easy recipe for a moist Healthy Carrot Bread made with whole wheat flour and lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup. Serve it plain or top it with a light ricotta icing for a special treat!

4.55 from 24 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 40 minutes mins

Total Time 55 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Servings 12

Calories 154 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

Healthy Carrot Bread

• 1-½ cups whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1-½ cups grated carrots
• 2 eggs large
• ½ cup yogurt plain
• ½ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup light tasting oil I used grapeseed
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Ricotta Cheese Icing

• 300 grams ricotta cheese I used extra smooth, 6% M.F.
• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup more to taste
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon optional

Instructions

 

Healthy Carrot Bread

• Place a rack in the centre of your oven and preheat oven to 350ºF.
• Grease and flour one 9x5x3- inch loaf pan.
• In a large bowl, whisk together whole wheat flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
• In a separate bowl, adds the eggs and lightly whisk. To the whisked eggs, add the yogurt, maple syrup, oil, vanilla extract and grated carrots. Stir until well mixed.
  
• Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 40 to 45 min. With a toothpick or a cake tester, check to see if the bread is done at 40 min, if the toothpick comes out clean or with just a couple of crumbs the bread is done, if not, check again in 3 to 5 minutes. Mine took 40 minutes to bake.
• Let bread cool on rack for 15 minutes before removing the it from the pan. Remove from pan and let it cool completely to room temperature.
  
• If desired top bread with ricotta cheese icing.
  

Ricotta Cheese Icing

• In the jar of your blender, or food processor, add the ricotta, maple syrup, vanilla extract and if using cinnamon. Blend until the mixture is smooth. Top carrot bread with the icing or serve on the side.
  

Notes

1. Feel free to add in a handful of toasted walnuts, they give a great crunch. Just fold them in to the ingredients once you combined everything together.
2. My high powered blender turned the ricotta cheese into an incredibly smooth and velvety sauce, reminiscent of a crème anglaise. If you would rather keep things simple and on the lighter side, a light dusting of icing sugar will work beautifully. Of course, you could always serve the bread plain as well.
3. Please note the nutrition facts are for the carrot bread only and do not include the ricotta icing or optional add-ins such as raisins, coconut or walnuts.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 154kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 3gFat: 6gCholesterol: 28mgSodium: 180mgPotassium: 203mgFiber: 2gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 2725IUVitamin C: 0.9mgCalcium: 63mgIron: 0.8mg

Keyword Carrot Bread, Carrot Loaf, Healthy Carrot Bread, Whole Wheat Carrot Bread

Tried this recipe? Have any questions, comments or suggestions? Leave a comment below!Mention @sweetandsavourypursuits or tag #sweetandsavourypursuits!