Healthier Carrot Cake Roll with Lightened Cream Cheese Filling

Healthier Carrot Cake Roll with Lightened Cream Cheese Filling

Indulge in the delightful flavors of carrot cake while keeping it on the healthier side with this smartly modified recipe. Lightened cream cheese filling and a better-for-you glaze make it a perfect treat.

Ingredients:

For the Cake:

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
• 3 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar (or a sugar substitute like stevia or erythritol)
• 2 tbsp. unsweetened applesauce (as a substitute for vegetable oil)
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 3 medium carrots, shredded

For the Lightened Cream Cheese Filling:

• 1 cup powdered sugar (or a sugar substitute)
• 1 (8 oz.) package light cream cheese, softened
• 6 tbsp. unsalted butter (or a lower-fat spread), softened
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

For the Healthier Glaze Drizzle:

• 3 cups powdered sugar (or a sugar substitute)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 10-11 tbsp. skim milk (or almond milk)

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F and line a 15 x 10-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper, leaving a little overhang on each side.
2. In a medium bowl, combine whole wheat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves, and whisk.
3. In a large bowl, combine eggs and sugar (or sugar substitute) and whisk until combined.
4. Add unsweetened applesauce (as a substitute for vegetable oil), vanilla extract, and carrots, and mix again until combined.
5. Pour the dry ingredients into the large bowl and fold to combine. Stir the batter just until combined.
6. Pour the batter into the jelly roll pan and spread it into an even layer.
7. Bake for 12 minutes and remove the cake from the pan using the overhang on the sides.
8. Lay the cake on a large wood cutting board and gently roll the cake lengthwise.
9. Carefully transfer the cake to a cooling rack and let it cool completely.
10. To prepare the filling, combine powdered sugar (or a sugar substitute), light cream cheese, softened butter (or spread), and vanilla extract in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth and creamy.
11. Carefully unroll the cake and spread the filling onto the cake, allowing for a small gap on all edges.
12. Reroll the cake and wrap it tightly with plastic cling wrap.
13. Chill it in the fridge for 1 hour before serving.
14. When ready to serve, combine the glaze ingredients in a mixing bowl and whisk until smooth. Drizzle it over the cake and slice.

Enjoy your Healthier Carrot Cake Roll with Lightened Cream Cheese Filling!

Weight Watchers SmartPoints (per serving, assuming 8 servings):

• Green Plan: 8 SmartPoints
• Blue Plan: 7 SmartPoints
• Purple Plan: 7 SmartPoints