By Wendy Stoltz / Last Modified On January 15, 2023

A tender, flavorful gluten-free carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, or buttercream frosting. I've included instructions to make a layered cake, sheet cake, and cupcakes from this gluten-free carrot cake recipe.

If you love cake, like me, you'll want to make my Gluten Free Pumpkin Cake. My Gluten Free Chocolate Cake is also scrumptious.

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

Have you ever seen a more lovely slice of gluten-free carrot cake? This carrot cake recipe uses a few simple ingredients, and there are no complicated steps. I've tested this carrot cake recipe with a couple of different flour blends - which I share below.

Please follow my directions the first time around before testing any substitutions in this gluten-free carrot cake recipe.

If you are an experienced baker and you do make a substitution to this carrot cake, please leave a comment below sharing what you used.

There's a section below with how to make gluten-free carrot cake with step-by-step photos, and I give alternate directions for making a gluten-free sheet cake carrot cake and gluten-free carrot cake cupcakes.

What Makes This Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Recipe Special

Easy to make - This gf carrot cake is simple to make and it uses simple ingredients. No need to buy a gluten-free carrot cake mix at the store, this one is perfect and easy.

Texture - The texture of this gluten-free carrot cake is amazingly tender. With a great combination of spices and a little crunch from the shredded carrots, you will certainly fall in love with this gf carrot cake. 

Stores Well - We share how to store this carrot cake below, but overall, it stores and freezes well. You can make it ahead of time and frost when you're ready to enjoy it.

Versatile - This cake is versatile and it works well with a dusting of powdered sugar, cream cheese frosting, or buttercream frosting. It also pairs well with vanilla ice cream.

This gluten-free carrot cake is a reader favorite for many reasons. Hopefully, you love it as much as we do.

Gluten-Free Flours

For this carrot cake recipe you can use my gluten free flour blend recipe, Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1 Gluten Free Baking Flour (not the all-purpose gf flour), or GFJules Gluten Free Flour Blend.

Working with Gluten-Free Flours

When working with or measuring gluten-free flour, spoon the flour into the measuring cup and level. Do not scoop your measuring cup into the gluten-free flour.

The best method really is to weigh the gluten-free flour but I don't have the ingredient weights for all my recipes yet.

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Ingredients

FOR THE CARROT CAKE

• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil (or oil of choice)
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon all spice
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups freshly grated carrots
• Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

How to make gluten-free carrot cake

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and eggs.
2. Add oil and vanilla; beat just until smooth.
3. In a separate medium mixing bowl combine flour, baking
   soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ground cloves.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.
5. Mix until combined.
6. Stir in grated carrots. Optional: Stir in chopped nuts.
7. Spoon batter evenly into two round 9” pans and bake as directed.
8. Cool completely before frosting.

Although the photos of this gluten-free carrot cake show the cake as a layered cake, you can easily make this carrot cake into a sheet cake or cupcakes. See below.

How to Make Cream Cheese Icing on the Top

1. While your gf carrot cake is cooling, place the cream cheese and butter in the bowl of your standing mixer (you can also use a large bowl with a handheld mixer instead)
2. Beat on the medium speed for about 5 minutes until light and fluffy
3. Add the salt and sugar
4. Mix on low speed until the sugar is absorbed and then turn to high speed and beat until the icing is thickened
5. Add more sugar if necessary to thicken the icing to hold its shape when you use a spoon to scoop it

Can I make this gluten-free carrot cake with cream cheese icing ahead?

You can make the carrot cake layers even weeks ahead by wrapping them tightly and freezing them. You can even store it at room temperature, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, up to 1 day in advance too! 

You can also make the frosting in advance and store it in the refrigerator for a few days. Keep in mind that it will be solid once fully chilled, so you will need to let it warm up at room temperature for about an hour, and then mix it again with your mixer to reach the proper texture for spreading. 

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Substitutions

Dairy-Free Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

The only dairy in this gluten-free carrot cake recipe is in the frosting. You can make a cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting using dairy-free ingredients to keep this carrot cake dairy-free (for example, Kite Hill dairy-free cream cheese and Pillsbury canned cream cheese frosting are good options).

Nut-free gluten-free carrot cake

You can completely omit nuts in this gluten-free carrot cake recipe! It will still taste delicious. 

Different Types of Oil 

We use vegetable oil but any neutral flavored oil like canola oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil works.

I don't use applesauce in my gf carrot cake but if you'd like you can replace half the oil with applesauce.

I haven't tried replacing all the oil with applesauce. 

Tips for making gluten-free carrot cake

• Make sure you measured the right amount of gluten-free flour: It's important to measure your dry ingredients by weight instead of volume because you're more likely to make a mistake when measuring by volume.
• Use a food processor to grate carrots: It's also important that you always grate your carrots fresh (prepared bags of grated carrots are too dry and thick). To make this process easier, use a food processor to grate them. For this homemade gluten-free carrot cake recipe, I like to use finely shredded carrots, but you can use regular grated carrots. I find the finely shredded carrots lend to a more tender texture, without any large carrot pieces.
• Use different mix-ins for your gf carrot cake: There are many different mix-in options you can use in this gluten-free carrot cake recipe! Think about soft nuts, raisins, and even white, dark, or milk chocolate chips!

How to tell when my gluten-free carrot cake is ready?

One of the most reliable signs that your gluten-free carrot cake is ready is an evenly light brown color on the top and it's beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan. 

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Sheet Cake

To make a gluten-free carrot cake sheet cake, mix the batter up as directed. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan.

Pour cake batter into your prepared pan and level with the back of a rubber spatula.

Bake for 35-38 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Cupcakes

For the cupcakes: Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Position rack in center of oven.

Line two cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. Mix the batter as directed.

Spoon batter evenly into cupcake liners.

Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the center springs back when touched and the gluten-free carrot cake cupcakes are very lightly browned.

Favorite pans for gluten-free carrot cake and cupcakes

This recipe is designed for 2 9-inch round cake pans or the standard 12-cup muffin tin. I prefer baking in cast aluminum because it conducts heat just right. 

Why is my gluten-free carrot cake too crumbly?

It might be because you have overmeasured your gluten-free flour blend, or you used a blend with gritty rice flour. That's why it's important to know your flour blend and measure it by weight.

How to make gluten-free carrot cake moister?

If you want to make your gf carrot cake even moister, add ½ cup canned crushed pineapple in its own juice.

Can I refrigerate this gluten-free carrot cake mix for later?

You can assemble the dry ingredients, whisk them together, and store them in a sealed container at room temperature. 

Storing Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

You can store this gluten-free carrot cake covered in the fridge for up to 5 days, or in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months with the frosting.

Is carrot cake gluten-free?

No. Carrot cakes are almost never gluten-free unless you use a gluten-free carrot cake recipe like this one. 

Can I Freeze Gluten-Free Carrot Cake?

Yes, you can freeze gluten-free carrot cake. For best results, wrap each of the cake layers in cling wrap and store them in the freezer for up to 6 months. When you're ready to frost the cake, let the cake layers come to room temperature, so they can absorb some of the moisture from the air before frosting.

For another amazing cake with carrots try this Gluten Free Carrot Zucchini Cake.

More Gluten-Free Cake Recipes

Gluten Free Vanilla Cake

Gluten Free Lemon Cake

Gluten Free Red Velvet Cake

Gluten Free Strawberry Cake

Did you make this gluten-free carrot cake? Please stop back by and let me know what you thought. Leave a comment below and share your experience.

Continue to Content

Yield: 16 servings

Gluten-Free Carrot Cake

Print

A tender gluten free carrot cake that is simple to make and uses minimal ingredients. Top this homemade gluten free carrot cake with cream cheese frosting or buttercream frosting.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Additional Time 20 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients

For the carrot cake:

• 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil (or oil of choice)
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour blend
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• ½ teaspoon all spice
• ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 cups freshly grated carrots
• Optional: ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
• ½ cup butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 2 teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract
• 4½ cups powdered sugar

For Buttercream Frosting

• ½ cup butter (1 stick), room temperature
• 1½ teaspoons gluten-free vanilla extract
• 4½ cups powdered sugar
• ¼ cup milk

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Position the oven rack in center of oven. Line two 9” round cake pans with parchment paper (cut out circles for the bottom of the pan), and spray with oil; set aside.
2. In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and eggs. Add oil and vanilla; beat just until smooth.
3. In a separate medium mixing bowl combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
4. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until combined.
5. Stir in grated carrots. Optional: Stir in chopped nuts.
6. Spoon batter evenly into the baking pans.
7. Bake for 36–40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean. Start with the lowest time and watch for doneness from there.
8. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan for 5–10 minutes, then remove from pan and let cool on a rack.
9. Frost with your favorite frosting. For a layer cake, place a little frosting in the center of your cake plate. Place a layer on top, frost the top. Add the second layer and frosting the top. If desired frosting the sides.
10. Store this gluten free carrot cake in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, and in a sealed container in the freezer for up to 3 months.
11. For the cream cheese frosting - In a medium mixing bowl, beat together cream cheese, butter and vanilla until light and fluffy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well. You can store frosting in the refrigerator in a sealed container
    for up to a week.
12. For the buttercream frosting - In a medium mixing bowl, beat together butter and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, one cup at a time, beating well. Alternate one cup of powdered sugar and 1 tablespoon of milk until all ingredients are blended. Beat in additional milk if needed to obtain desired constancy. You can store frosting in the refrigerator in a sealed container for up to a week.
    

Notes

• Spoon gluten free flour into the measuring cup, then level.
• Gluten Free Carrot Cake Sheet Cake - To make a gluten free carrot cake sheet cake mix the batter up as directed. Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking pan. Pour cake batter into your prepared pan and level with the back of a rubber spatula. Bake for 35-38 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool completely before frosting.
• Gluten Free Carrot Cake Cupcakes - For the gluten free carrot cake cupcakes preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Position rack in center of oven. Line two cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. Mix the batter as directed. Spoon batter evenly into cupcake liners. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until the centers springs back when touched and the gluten free carrot cake cupcakes are very lightly browned.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases. They never cost you extra.

• 
  USA Pan Bakeware Round Cake Pan, 9 inch, Nonstick & Quick Release Coating, 9-Inch,Aluminized Steel
• 
  Proctor Silex Durable Electric Vegetable Chopper & Mini Food Processor for Chopping, Puree & Emulsify, 1.5 Cup, White
• 
  Bobs Red Mill, Baking Flour 1 To 1 Gluten Free, 22 Ounce

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

16

Serving Size:

1 slice
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 697Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 20gCholesterol: 92mgSodium: 276mgCarbohydrates: 96gFiber: 1gSugar: 81gProtein: 5g

This nutrition info is based on the exact ingredients and brands that I used a the time. It may not be 100% accurate. Please check your ingredients nutrition labels.