No Sugar | Day 12 | Delectable Whole Wheat Sugarless Carrot Cake

Hi, my name is Kali, and I am a sugar addict. Seriously. Studies have shown that refined sugar can be addictive. It triggers the same parts of the brain as cocaine. Scary, especially for people with a genetic predisposition to addiction.

I'm thrilled because I did not think I could do this and honestly, didn't know if I even wanted to. I haven't had sugar in 12 days! You may not think that's a big deal, but this is coming from someone who hasn't gone a day without sugar in probably her entire life. I'm hoping to abstain for at least a month, then I'll decide if I want to adopt it as permanent lifestyle change, because it is a lifestyle change. I've had to become a constant label reader and the stuff is in practically everything.

Days 3-8 were the hardest. Killer headaches, massive fatigue, and unyielding cravings. But I'm happy to report, I stuck to my resolve.

One of the huge benefits that has come from quitting, is all I've learned about substituting sugar with natural sweeteners, like bananas and pineapple, honey and applesauce. I love to bake and haven't felt cheated at all. 

Now to the point of the post, introducing:

The Delectable Whole Wheat Sugarless Carrot Cake

(adapted from this recipe here)
photo © Kali Matthews Photography

• 2 cups white whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 3 teaspoons cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 3/4 cup oil
• 3/4 cup honey
• 4 eggs
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup unsweetened crushed canned pineapple , drained
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. 1
   Combine dry ingredients.
2. 2
   Add oil, vanilla, honey, and eggs; mix well.
3. 3
   Stir in remaining 3 ingredients.
4. 4
   Bake in two greased 9-inch cake layer pans for 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees.
5. 5
   Cool in pans several minutes, then remove from pans and cool completely on wire rack.
6. 6
   You can also bake this in a 9x13 pan as a sheet cake -- just as good, and easier than frosting a layer cake!

I whipped up a delicious sugar free cream cheese frosting using these ingredients:

8 oz of cream cheese, 3 tablespoons of butter, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 6 packets of stevia. Just throw them in a mixing bowl and use a hand mixer to whip.

 It also helps to have an enthusiastic three year old co-baker on hand for entertainment purposes. The boys and I absolutely loved this cake, and I will definitely be making it again.