Grain-Free Carrot Cake

Thermomix Method:

Cake

[Prep notes: Grate carrot in the Thermomix for 10 sec/speed 5. Remove to a bowl and set aside. Place butter or coconut oil into the bowl and melt 2 mins/50C/speed 3.]

1. Prepare cake tins by lining the base with baking paper, attaching the ring, trimming off any paper sticking out, and greasing the inside with butter or coconut oil. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 170C. (I use a fan-forced oven).
3. In the Thermomix bowl, blend together melted butter or coconut oil, eggs, honey or maple syrup and vanilla for 20 sec/speed 6.
4. Add grated carrot and pineapple and mix 5 sec/speed 4.
5. Add almond meal, coconut flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, bicarb, apple cider vinegar and walnuts, and mix 10 sec/speed 4.
6. Divide the mixture evenly between the two cake tins and use a spatula to smooth the tops.
7. Place tins into the oven and bake for 45 minutes, or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cakes comes out clean and the tops of the cakes are lightly browned.
8. Set cake tins onto cooling racks and leave to cool completely before icing. For ease of handling, you may want to chill the cakes in the fridge or freezer before removing from the tins.

Icing

1. Place butter, cream cheese, honey or maple syrup, vanilla and salt into a clean Thermomix bowl and mix 1 min/speed 6 (or until smooth and creamy), using the spatula to help mixture along as needed.
2. Once the cakes are cool and ready to ice, carefully run a butter knife around the edge of one of the cakes and remove the ring, then tip it upside down onto your hand and remove the base and paper. Gently place cake onto a cake plate, upside down so the smooth side is facing up.
3. Place half the icing on top of the cake and use a butter knife to spread to the edges of the cake.
4. Gently remove the second cake from the tin and place on top of first cake so that the smooth side is facing up.
5. Place remaining icing on top of the cake and spread evenly with a butter knife, then use the knife to make scallops in the icing if desired. (The icing can be spread over the top and sides of the cake if preferred, I usually just spread over the top.)
6. Decorate the top edge of the cake with chopped walnuts and blue butterfly pea flowers (if using).
7. Place cake into the fridge and chill well before serving.

Conventional Method:

Cake

1. Prepare cake tins as outlined above.
2. Preheat oven to 170C. (I use a fan-forced oven).
3. Warm butter or coconut oil in a pan over low heat until just melted. Set aside to cool a little.
4. Place melted butter or coconut oil, eggs, honey or maple syrup and vanilla into a blender and blend on med-high speed for 20 seconds, or until foamy. Pour into a large mixing bowl.
5. Add grated carrot and pineapple to bowl and stir through.
6. Roughly chop walnuts, and add to bowl with almond meal, coconut flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt, bicarb and apple cider vinegar and mix well to combine.
7. Continue as above.

Icing

1. Chop butter and cream cheese into cubes.
2. Place butter, cream cheese, honey or maple syrup, vanilla and salt into a food processor and process until smooth and creamy, stopping to scrape down side as needed.
3. Continue as above.