Indulge in a Delicious Carrot Cake for Dinner

"Cake for dinner? Really now?"

"If it's nutritious and filling, why not?"

"But wait, shouldn't dinner have some veggies?"

"Let's make a carrot cake then."

Sometimes, after a particularly heavy lunch, you don't feel like eating—or preparing—a big dinner. But skipping it altogether isn’t a great idea either.

Enter carrot cake: light, sweet, and oh-so-tasty. It feels more like a fun snack than a full dinner, but it's seriously healthy.

This isn't a new idea. Back in the Middle Ages, when sugar was a luxury only for the rich, many people used carrots as a sugar substitute. That's how carrot bread, a sweet treat, was born. Some folks spread cream cheese on top, while others enjoyed it just as it was.

The first recipe for carrot bread or cake dates back to 1827, in a French cookbook published in England.

So, here's what you'll need for a fluffy, tasty, and healthy carrot cake:

3 organic free-range eggs – each egg is a multivitamin all by itself.

1 cup coconut sugar – we've talked about coconut sugar before; it's not actually sugar but coconut blossom nectar, rich in nutrients with a low glycemic index (34 compared to white sugar's 99).

1 and a half cups spelt or rye flour – 100% is an option, but not a must if you're not used to it.

Half a cup of oats – I add oats to everything. They're so healthy that they deserve their own article on how good they are for you, body and soul, thanks to tryptophan, an amino acid key to serotonin, the happy hormone.

Baking powder – to help the cake rise.

3/4 cup oil

1 cup grated carrot – this orange miracle root is rich in beta-carotene, which turns into vitamin A in your body. By the way, in English, carrot comes from 'carotene.' There are also purple and white carrots. It could be fun to try the cake with those.

A touch of cinnamon and nutmeg – to infuse the cake with inviting aromas that'll fill your home as it bakes.

Preparation method:

Preheat the oven to 150°C (302°F).

Whisk the 3 egg whites.

In a separate bowl, mix 3 egg yolks, coconut sugar, oil, and spices. Then add flour, oats, and baking powder, stirring until smooth.

Gently fold in the carrots and the whipped egg whites.

Transfer to a greased loaf pan. Feel free to sprinkle walnuts and/or raisins on top, if desired.

Bake for about 50 minutes.

And there you have it, enjoy!

You can spread cream cheese on top, just like medieval farmers did. I tried it—it’s fantastic!

In the next article, with Hashem's help, we'll continue with more dinner ideas.
Until then, stay healthy, Chen Tovi