Carrot Cake Slice

• Ingredients
• 1.5 cups of self-raising flour
• ½ cup of dates or prunes soaked in boiling water
• 1 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 chopped carrots
• ½ cup of walnuts
• ¼ cup of olive oil
• ½ cup of desiccated coconut
• 1 cup milk (can use a plant milk)

Frosting (optional):

• 1 cup of yoghurt (Can use coconut yogurt, just add in 2 tbs of lemon juice)
• 1.5 cup of cashew (soaked for 30 mins in boiling water first then drained)
• 1 tbs maple syrup (optional)

What To Do

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees and line a baking tray with baking paper
• Place all your ingredients into the food processor and blend until smooth
• Put mixture into the baking tray
• Bake for 60 mins (until cooked through and springy to touch on top)
• Take out and allow to cool
• Frosting (optional): Blend it all together! Once your slice has cooled, spread icing over the top and store in the fridge.

Storage Instructions

Store the slice in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days (keep frosted slices chilled). It freezes well — slice first, then freeze portions with baking paper between them for up to 3 months. The frosting is best added fresh after thawing.

Nutrition Notes

This slice is sweetened with whole fruit and veg rather than added free sugar, which we love to limit for little ones, especially before age 2. Carrots add fibre and beta-carotene, walnuts bring healthy fats and a little protein, and the coconut and olive oil add nourishing fats too.

Parent Tip

Snacks like a slice don't have to be saved for morning or afternoon tea — offering a piece alongside a main meal is a lovely way to normalise these foods early. It's a great lunch box filler for older siblings too.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this carrot cake slice suitable for babies?

Yes — it has no added free sugar and is soft enough to offer as a finger food from around 6 months, once any nuts and dairy have been safely introduced. Cut it into strips little hands can hold.

Can I make it without added sugar?

It's already free of added sugar in the slice itself, sweetened only with dates or prunes and carrot. You can reduce the dates further if you like, and the maple syrup in the frosting is optional.

How do I make it dairy free?

Use a plant milk in the slice, and for the frosting use coconut yoghurt with a little added lemon juice as noted in the recipe.

It contains nuts — can I leave them out?

The walnuts and cashews add healthy fats and protein. If nuts aren't yet introduced, you can leave the walnuts out of the slice and skip the cashew frosting, offering plain yoghurt on top instead.