Description
The Best Carrot Cake Bread is a moist, tender, and flavorful bread bursting with freshly grated carrots, warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and balanced sweetness. Perfect for breakfast, snacks, or holiday desserts, this easy-to-make recipe offers a versatile, comforting treat that can be customized to fit dietary needs or preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1½ cups grated carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free option)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup plain yogurt (can use coconut or almond yogurt for dairy-free)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon salt
Optional Add-ins
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (or pumpkin/sunflower seeds for nut-free)
- ½ cup raisins or dried cranberries
- Cream cheese swirl: softened cream cheese mixed with a bit of sugar and cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare the Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a standard loaf pan with butter or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour (or gluten-free blend), baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to distribute the leavening agents and spices evenly.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat together vegetable oil, brown sugar, eggs, yogurt, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and creamy, forming the base of your batter.
- Incorporate Dry into Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, folding gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bread tender.
- Add Carrots and Nuts: Fold in the freshly grated carrots along with any optional chopped nuts or dried fruits to evenly distribute them throughout the batter.
- Bake to Perfection: Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan, smooth the top, and bake for 50-60 minutes. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean. Let the bread cool slightly before slicing.
Notes
- Use fresh grated carrots for optimal moisture and flavor—avoid pre-shredded carrots to prevent dryness.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the bread light and tender.
- Bring eggs and yogurt to room temperature for better mixing and texture.
- Check your oven temperature with a thermometer for accurate baking.
- Test the bread for doneness a few minutes before the minimum baking time to avoid overbaking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snack, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/10 loaf)
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: carrot cake bread, moist carrot bread, spiced bread, gluten-free carrot bread, easy carrot cake recipe, vegan carrot cake bread (with substitutions)