Carrot Cake Jars are a new, adorable take on individual-sized cakes. Everyone will think these are too cute. They’re super easy to put together and too tasty for words. Carrot cake is baked up, stamped out, then layered with cream cheese frosting and topped with nuts and coconut. Perfect for Spring!
Hey all! Just popping in really quickly to share an adorable recipe. I’m in Denver with some family, so I’ll keep this short and sweet.
You like carrot cake, right? Oh good, we’re still friends.
Anyways, I love love love it. And I think it is way too cute in these jars! I mean, why not just stamp your cake out, layer it up in jars, and impress all of your friends?
Plus, secret secret here, you get more cream cheese frosting this way!
And my cream cheese frosting is super simple and really rich and tasty. I combine cream cheese with Greek yogurt and powdered sugar. There is less powdered sugar than traditional frosting, and no butter! But it is SO good and gives your taste buds a one-two punch! Pow!
I think that layering cake and frosting in jars is adorable, and its such a new take on the “individual sized” cake (move over cupcake).
Well, I’m back to enjoying my vacay, so I hope you get some R&R too!
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup currants
- ¼ cup rolled oats
- ¼ cup shredded, unsweetened coconut
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ cup + 2Tbs. melted coconut oil
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 eggs
- 2 cups gluten free flour blend
- 1 tsp. xanthan gum
- 1 tsp. baking soda
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- ½ tsp. nutmeg
- ¼ tsp. cardamom
- pinch of salt
- 1 (8oz) package cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- Toppings: chopped walnuts, shredded coconut
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a quarter sheet pan or 9x13" baking dish with nonstick spray.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine your shredded carrots and brown sugar. Use your fingers to break up all of the sugar and massage it all together. Set this aside for 10 minutes to enhance the moisture and flavor before moving on.
- Next, to the bowl, add the currants, oats and unsweetened shredded coconut. Stir in the vanilla, then the coconut oil. Keep mixing and adding the yogurt then eggs (one at a time).
- Finally, add the flour, xanthan gum, baking soda and spices. Fold the ingredients together until just mixed.
- Dump your batter into your prepared baking sheet and spread it in a thin, even layer (this took some manipulating with my fingers and spatula).
- Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean and the cake is pulling away from the edges of the pan.
- Let the cake cool completely.
- Prepare the frosting and then layer up! In a mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and Greek yogurt and beat on medium speed until fluffy and well-combined. Then, add the powdered sugar and beat to combine. Finally, add the vanilla and beat until combined.
- Scoop your frosting into a pastry bag or a zip-top bag. Snip the corner. Use a round cookie cutter or biscuit cutter to cut out circles of cake just slightly smaller than the size jars you have (mine were around 1.25" in diameter). Cut rounds of cake and layer them with frosting, piped in an even layer between each layer of cake. Finish each Carrot Cake Jar with a dollop of frosting, some chopped walnuts or pecans and some unsweetened coconut flakes.
- Enjoy!
- Store cakes, covered, in the fridge for up to 5 days. They are best if eaten the day they're prepared.
Definitely a cute presentation! And I’m glad I’m not the only one posting carrot cake recipes after Easter. It shouldn’t be exclusive to bunnies and eggs!
Erin @ The Spiffy Cookie recently posted…Gluten-Free Avocado Brownies
These are adorable! I want to eat one right now! haha
Really cute! What do you do with the extra cake that isn’t cut into circles?
Lindsay recently posted…runners are stubborn.
Hi Lindsay!
Well, personally, I’d eat all the scraps 😉 BUT if you need some ideas, you could use it as an ice cream topper, roll it with frosting into cake balls/truffles (then dip in white chocolate), or piece it together into a trifle (layered with frosting or custard and fresh fruit like pineapple)!
Melissa @ Treats With a Twist recently posted…Carrot Cake Jars
Seriously? These are the cutest things EVER! And I am officially converted…I picked up a tub of the Kroger whipped Greek yogurt cream cheese and I’m in HEAVEN! Had it on a bagel with some smoked salmon yesterday. Annnnnnnd yeah, that really doesn’t go well with carrot cake does it? Forget I even mentioned it…but don’t…because it was damn good! 😉
Heather @ Kiss My Broccoli recently posted…April: The Month of Teeter Tottering
Both of the last two times I have been in Atlanta I have wavered about buying the Kroger Greek yogurt cream cheese and did NOT succumb to temptation. Now I’m thinking that was a mistake. I wonder if Publix makes a version… [Because clearly I would never buy something that wasn’t a store brand. Although I WOULD try to make my own…]
Side not which has nothing to do with your comment, Heather:
I was watching Cutthroat Kitchen last week and one of the chefs had to bake a carrot cake in a flower pot. I thought it was amazing, and now I would like you, Melissa, to bake something in a pot. 🙂
Sarah @ The Smart Kitchen recently posted…Strawberry Fields Forever (WIAW)
so cute and pretty! would be great to have at an event!
Linz @ Itz Linz recently posted…Thursday thoughts
These look SO lovely!
jessiebearwhat recently posted…Survey Sunday
what happened if i don’t use xanthan gum?