WHAT’S IN IT
· 2 ½ cups shredded carrots (about 4 large carrots)
· 1 ½ cups raw walnuts
· 1 cup pitted medjool dates
· 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
· 1 t ground cinnamon
· ½ t ground ginger
· ¼ t ground nutmeg
· 1 cup raw cashews
· ¼ cup water
· 3 T pure maple syrup
· 1 t vanilla extract
· Juice of ½ lemon
· 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
· Sea salt
HOW TO MAKE IT
1. Soak cashews for 6 hours if you don’t have a high-speed blender
2. Line an 8x8 baking dish (or equally sized pan) with parchment paper (let the edges hang over the sides of the pan
3. Shred the carrots into the large bowl and set aside
4. In a food processor blend the walnuts and dates into a uniform crumble
5. Add carrots, shredded coconut, spices and a pinch of sea salt and blend again, scraping down the sides as needed, until the carrots are fully incorporated.
6. Press the cake into an 8x8 parchment paper lined baking pan. Se a spatula to smooth the top, and place in freezer while making the frosting
7. Drain cashews (if soaked in advance) and add to blender with ¼ cup water, maple syrup, vanilla, lemon juice and a pinch of sea salt. Blend on high until silky smooth
8. Add coconut oil and blend to combine
9. Pour onto the chilled cake and use a spatula to smooth
10. Cover with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 2 hours
11. When ready to serve, remove from freezer and let thaw for 15 minutes at room temperature before cutting (place cake back in freezer to keep for up to two months)
WHY IT’S HEALTHY
There is no refined sugar or gluten, and the ingredients are chock full of health benefits. Carrots have crucial nutrients (beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin) that boost eye health. One cup of carrots contains 428% of the daily recommended amount of Vitamin A. Medjool dates are packed full of vitamins, minerals and fiber. The fiber helps to lower cholesterol and triglycerides. The minerals help to boost bone health. Walnuts are a great sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, important for brain and heart health. They are also an outstanding source of Vitamin E. Cashews are a good source of copper. Copper helps with the production of the skin and hair pigment melanin, as well as the formation of collagen and maintenance of connective tissue, which supports skin’s elasticity. Additional benefits include bone health improvement due to the presence of calcium, magnesium, and potassium, together with a low sodium intake. These are associated with protection against bone demineralization. The antioxidants in cinnamon have wonderful anti-inflammatory effects, which may help lower risk of disease. Lemons are rich in Vitamin C needed for collagen production that is essential for smooth, healthy skin. They are rich in bioflavonoids (which can significantly boost the immune system) and are a good source of B6, thiamin, calcium, magnesium and potassium.
Inspired by mydarlingvegan