Coconut banana carrot cake

This cake takes the cake!   Literally.  It’s moist, tender, delicious and dare I say it for a cake… rather healthy!   Loaded with coconut, banana, carrot, cinnamon and zero refined sugar, this will quickly become a go-to recipe!  The cake batter is sweetened with maple syrup.  It’s so good and perfect for any special ending to a meal!

It is super delicious unadorned, but if you want to top it with a traditional cream cheese frosting, it doesn’t get any better than the one we have (warning:  the icing recipe is an old school, sugary-buttery-lick-your-fingers-icing… but everything in moderation… right?)!

1 cup ripe banana, mashed

2 cups carrots, grated
½ cup maple syrup
½ cup coconut oil (or butter), melted
4 eggs
2 cups almond flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ cup coconut
1/3-1/2 cup organic raisins (optional)
¼ cup walnuts, finely chopped (optional)

8-ounce cream cheese, room temperature

2 cups powdered sugar
½ cup butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dash of cinnamon & nutmeg, optional
Drop of milk

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
3. In a mixing bowl, mix together banana, maple syrup, coconut oil and eggs until well mixed.  Add almond flour, cinnamon, baking soda and vanilla.  Mix until incorporated.  Add carrots and coconut.  Mix until combined.  Add raisins and walnuts, and mix until incorporated.
4. Pour into prepared pan.  Bake for 40-45 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Cool cake completely.
6. For the icing:  Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.  Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and spices (if using), beat until combined.  Very gradually add a drop of milk until you reach the right creamy consistency (be careful to add a very little at a time!). 

What we are loving:  these stainless steel cups!  We got them for the kids, but oddly they are most coveted by adults.  I think grownups feel like they are drinking out of a mint julep cup… but they are perfect for kiddos!  They can safely drink from these without the worry of plastic leaching or breakage.