A Gentle Approach to Baking
In our home, baking is part of the rhythm that keeps family life grounded. When the house feels a little rushed or everyone needs a pause, I reach for a recipe that slows everything down – something simple, fragrant, and full of nourishment. This gut friendly carrot cake is one of those bakes. It’s soft and moist with natural sweetness, and it’s made from ingredients that help rather than hinder digestion.
It’s also wonderfully easy. There’s no fancy equipment, no complicated method, and no pressure to be perfect. Just a few mindful steps, and you have a wholesome cake that supports gut health, balances blood sugar, and brings calm back to the kitchen.
Why a Gut Friendly Carrot Cake?
When I first started paying attention to how different foods made me feel, I realized that many traditional cakes – especially those made with refined flour, seed oils, and heavy sugar, left me tired and bloated. Over time, I began creating recipes that taste just as good but sit gently in the body.
A gut friendly carrot cake uses ingredients that digest slowly, feed good gut bacteria, and stabilize energy rather than spiking it. Spelt flour instead of processed white flour, olive oil instead of vegetable oil, and honey or coconut sugar instead of refined white sugar – these small swaps make a world of difference. If these sound like changes you’re thinking about, check out my free ‘Seed Oil Free Kitchen Starter Guide‘ to for more tips and suggestions.
This kind of baking isn’t about restriction. It’s about understanding what helps your body thrive, so you can enjoy sweet moments without the crash afterward.
Choosing the Ingredients
The beauty of this recipe is in its simplicity. Every ingredient has a purpose.
- Spelt flour brings a light texture with more nutrients and fiber than standard wheat.
- Chia seeds add soluble fiber and gentle bulk, supporting gut motility and helping balance blood sugar. They also provide omega-3 fatty acids and minerals that aid hormone regulation and overall nourishment.
- Carrots add moisture, natural sweetness, and prebiotic fiber – gentle support for healthy gut bacteria.
- Olive oil or ghee replace seed oils, offering nourishing fats that support digestion and hormone balance. Ghee adds a buttery richness and gut-healing properties from short-chain fatty acids, while olive oil brings gentle monounsaturated fats that steady energy and support cell health.
- Eggs bring structure, protein, and a touch of richness.
- Honey or coconut sugar sweetens without the sharp blood sugar spike of refined sugar.
- Cinnamon and salt balance flavor and further help with glucose regulation.
Every element works together to create a cake that’s moist, fragrant, and genuinely supportive of wellbeing.
How to Make This Gut Friendly Carrot Cake
The method is as calming as the result – slow, steady, and simple. I like to prepare everything before I start, setting out bowls, measuring spoons, and ingredients so the process feels unhurried.
First, preheat the oven to 160 °C (320 °F) and line a loaf tin with parchment paper.
In one bowl, whisk three eggs until smooth, then slowly pour in half a cup of olive oil, whisking until the mixture becomes glossy and cohesive. Add half a cup of honey or coconut sugar and continue whisking until combined.
In a separate bowl, sift together one and a half cups of spelt flour, two teaspoons of baking powder, a teaspoon of cinnamon, and a small pinch of salt. Stir gently with a wooden spoon.
Next comes the heart of this gut friendly carrot cake – the carrots. Grate two medium carrots finely so they melt into the batter for natural sweetness and fiber.
Pour the wet mixture into the dry, folding carefully until no streaks of flour remain. Spoon the batter into the prepared tin, smooth the top, and bake for 40–45 minutes, until golden and a skewer comes out clean.
While it bakes, the kitchen fills with the scent of cinnamon and warmth. This pause – creating and waiting, is part of the nourishment.
Frosting or Not?
Once cooled, this cake can be enjoyed plain or topped with a light frosting. For a creamy option, whisk together cream cheese, honey, and lemon juice. For dairy-free, blend coconut cream with a little maple syrup. Either way, the cake itself is moist enough to enjoy as-is.
Gut Friendly Carrot Cake | Nourishing Family Dessert
This soft, moist gut friendly carrot cake is baked with spelt flour, ghee, and natural sweetness for a wholesome treat that supports digestion, hormone balance, and steady energy. It’s the perfect nourishing dessert for moms, toddlers, and families - simple to make, gentle on the gut, and filled with comforting flavor.
Ingredients
- Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups spelt flour
- 1 tbsp chia seeds
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground ginger and ground cloves
- 1 pinch mineral salt
- Wet Ingredients
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup melted ghee (or olive oil)
- ½ cup honey or coconut sugar
- 2 medium carrots, finely grated
- Optional Frosting
- 150 g cream cheese
- 1–2 tsp honey or maple syrup
- 1 tsp lemon juice/ rind of half a lemon
Instructions
- Prepare your tin and oven — Preheat the oven to 160 °C (320 °F). Line a loaf tin with parchment paper.
- Combine the dry ingredients — In a large bowl, mix together the spelt flour, chia seeds, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and salt.
- Mix the wet ingredients — In another bowl, whisk the eggs until smooth, then slowly add melted ghee. Whisk in honey (or coconut sugar) until glossy.
- Grate and add the carrots — Finely grate the carrots and fold them into the wet mixture.
- Bring it all together — Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold gently until combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the texture soft.
- Bake — Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf tin. Bake for 40–45 minutes, or until golden and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and frost (optional) — Let the cake cool completely before spreading the cream cheese frosting on top or serving plain with a spoon of yogurt.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 352Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 196mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 4gSugar: 27gProtein: 7g
How to Keep It Balanced
Even though this gut friendly carrot cake is more balanced than conventional versions, pairing your slice with protein or fat keeps blood sugar steady. Try it with Greek yogurt, nut butter, or a handful of nuts. Herbal teas like chamomile or rooibos make a calming companion.
Real-Mom Imperfection
When I first filmed this recipe, my blender was in the dishwasher and I couldn’t grind oats as planned, so I used a bit of plain flour instead. The cake turned out lighter and fluffier – a reminder that nourishing food doesn’t have to be perfect to be good.
Why This Cake Supports Gut and Hormone Health
- Fiber from carrots and spelt supports regular digestion and beneficial gut bacteria.
- Olive oil/ghee and eggs provide healthy fats and protein for hormone balance.
- Honey or coconut sugar helps maintain steadier glucose levels.
- No seed oils means less inflammation and easier digestion.
How to Store and Enjoy
Once completely cool, store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days, or refrigerate up to a week. It freezes beautifully – slice first so you can defrost individual pieces for quick postpartum and family friendly snacks. Try these cookies too if gut and hormone health is your jam!
What You Might Like Next
- Seed Oil Free Herb Mayonnaise — A Simple Everyday Swap
- Refined Sugar Free Halloween Cookies & Healthy Family Meals
- Sourdough Snack Loaf for Toddlers & Moms
Finding Balance in Everyday Baking
This gut friendly carrot cake recipe is a reminder that wellness doesn’t come from extremes – it comes from small, consistent choices. When we bake with real ingredients and calm intention, we create more than a treat – we create rhythm, energy, and care.
If you’d like to keep building a gut-friendly kitchen, download my free Seed Oil Free Kitchen Starter Guide. It’s full of simple swaps to help you make nourishing, family-friendly meals that support hormone and gut health one recipe at a time.
Want to bake alongside me?
Here’s the full video version of this gut friendly carrot cake recipe – filmed in my kitchen and filled with gentle tips for creating nourishing family rhythms.
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