Healthier Carrot Cake Cheesecake (whole grain)
This healthier carrot cake cheesecake is 100% whole grain and made with less sugar!
I’ve heard a lot about the Cheesecake Factory carrot cake cheesecake, but I’ve never had it, nor have I ever been to the Cheesecake Factory. I always felt like I was missing out, but now that I have this cheesecake, I don’t think I care. I do wish, though, that I could hop on a plane to the nearest Cheesecake Factory to do a compare and contrast on this cheesecake, but unfortunately, that’s not in the budget. ;)
This recipe is admittedly kind of time-consuming, but it’s so worth it. You have to make the cheesecake batter, the cake batter, and the cream cheese Greek yogurt frosting on top. With all the work involved, it makes sense to double the recipe for a full cheesecake. Sadly, I just can’t do full cheesecakes. Mr. Texanerin and I are going to demolish whatever size cheesecake we have, so it just makes sense to go with a smaller one.
If you want to double the recipe, use a 9″ springform pan and bake for 60-70 minutes.
If you’re like me, you’re probably considering skipping on the cream cheese frosting (it’s decadent enough, right?!), but that’s something you definitely don’t want to do! It makes the cheesecake. Putting the frosting together only takes two minutes, and it’s nice and tangy and adds so much to the cheesecake. I used half a cup of Greek yogurt to lighten things up and just enough sugar to lightly sweeten it.
There’s also Greek yogurt in the cheesecake batte,r but that doesn’t make it taste like light or low-fat cheesecake. I like my cheesecakes to be dense and heavy, just like a more traditional cheesecake.
One important thing to note is that you shouldn’t marble or swirl the layers together! It won’t come out properly if you do that. And don’t panic when you see your cheesecake rising and cracking in the oven. That’s normal and unavoidable with this recipe (because of the baking powder), but you’ll cover it up with the frosting so nobody will be the wiser. :)
I haven’t tried making a grain-free or gluten-free version of this carrot cake cheesecake, but I’m pretty confident that you could use this grain-free carrot cake recipe instead of the carrot cake batter recipe below. Just make half of it, though, unless you’re doubling the entire carrot cheesecake recipe. Or you could try these mini carrot cake cheesecakes from RecipeGirl. They look amazing and have a gluten-free option!
I hope you all have a great Easter! Here are some more 100% whole grain Easter recipes. :)
Healthier Carrot Cake Cheesecake (whole grain)
Ingredients
For the cheesecake batter:
- 8 ounces (225 grams) full-fat cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar or unrefined sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 large egg 50 grams out of shell, room temp
- 1/3 cup (75 grams) plain Greek yogurt
For the cake batter:
- 1/2 cup (62 grams) whole spelt flour or whole wheat flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons (28 grams) coconut oil melted, canola oil
- 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons unsweetened apple sauce or more oil
- 1/4 cup (50 grams) unrefined sugar or brown sugar
- 1 large egg 50 grams, room temp
- 3/4 cup (100 grams) peeled and grated carrots
For the frosting:
- 2 ounces (56 grams) full-fat cream cheese room temperature
- 1/3 cup (66 grams) granulated sugar or unrefined sugar
- 1/2 cup (112 grams) plain Greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon (14 grams) coconut oil melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Lightly grease a 6 1/2″ springform pan and set aside.
- In a medium mixing bowl using an electric hand mixer, beat together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.8 ounces (225 grams) full-fat cream cheese, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Add the salt, vanilla and egg and beat until smooth.1/8 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 large egg
- Stir in the Greek yogurt and set this bowl aside.1/3 cup (75 grams) plain Greek yogurt
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).
- Prepare the cake batter by mixing together all the dry ingredients (flour through salt) in a medium bowl.1/2 cup (62 grams) whole spelt flour, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger, 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1/8 teaspoon salt
- In another medium mixing bowl, mix together the oil, apple sauce, sugars and egg.2 tablespoons (28 grams) coconut oil, 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons unsweetened apple sauce, 1/4 cup (50 grams) unrefined sugar, 1 large egg
- Add the dry mix to the wet and stir just until combined.
- Fold in the carrots.3/4 cup (100 grams) peeled and grated carrots
- Pour half of the cake batter on the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Dollop large spoonfuls of half the cheesecake batter over the carrot cake batter. Do not swirl or mix it together.
- Dollop the remaining carrot cake batter over the cheesecake batter layer.
- Evenly spread the remaining cheesecake on top.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until the middle of the cheesecake is still jiggly but appears to be almost set. The cake will rise and crack but don’t worry as you’ll be covering the cake with frosting.
- Let the cheesecake cool completely and then refrigerate for 3 hours.
- After the cheesecake has cooled thoroughly, prepare the frosting by mixing together the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.2 ounces (56 grams) full-fat cream cheese, 1/3 cup (66 grams) granulated sugar
- Add the Greek yogurt, oil, vanilla and salt and mix until thoroughly combined.1/2 cup (112 grams) plain Greek yogurt, 1 tablespoon (14 grams) coconut oil, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/8 teaspoon salt
- Spread the frosting over the top of the cheesecake and chill for another hour until the frosting firms up just a bit.
- Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days.
Notes
- The nutrition information provided is calculated as a courtesy and is only an estimate. I am not a licensed nutritionist or dietitian. For the most accurate nutritional data, consult a professional or use your preferred calculator.
- Cake batter recipe adapted from Carrot cake with maple cream cheese frosting.
Hi!
LOVE this recipe
Would it be okay if I used vanilla Greek yogurt (instead of plain) If it’s all I have right now… would I have to change other elements ?
Hi! I haven’t tried it but think it’d be just fine. :)
8 adverts before you even reach the recipe… yikes! can’t wait to make it but looking at the webpage is really annoying to the eye lol
Could you use low fat cream cheese?
I think that’d be fine. :) Hope you’ll like it!
This looks so wonderful – moist and full of true spiced carrot flavour. Love the fact that the carrot is actually visible in the cake itself! We don’t have cheesecake factory over here so I have nothing to compare it to, but I do think that your carrot cheesecake is better than anything I’ve seen in the shops over here! Gorgeous Erin x
Thanks, Laura! :) Do you all have lots of cheesecake in Australia? Is it like ours? There’s cheesecake in Germany but I wouldn’t even call it cheesecake. ;)
Oh my goodness, look at that beauty! Psht, who needs The Cheesecake Factory when you have this sweet cake? Who could blame you for wanting to devour this cake. Nom!
Haha. Thanks, Jennie :)
I have been meaning to make a carrot cake cheesecake for awhile now and I love how you made this one so much healthier than the average cheesecake! Pinned! :)
Thanks for pinning! :) And hooray for healthier carrot cake cheesecakes! :D
This looks delicious! The icing seems to be the best part to me :)
It so is. ;) Happy Easter!
This might be my dream cheesecake, what a perfect spring dessert!
Thanks, Laura! I agree. Perfect for spring! :)
I made a healthy carrot cake cheesecake this year to…but I like yours better! It reminds me of the AHMAYZING one at Cheesecake factory…except I don’t feel as guilty about eating the whole thing!
Not that I know anything about that…Pinned!
I’m going to have to check yours out! I’m sure it’s equally as yummy and all that! Thanks for pinning. :)
Ooooooh Erin. This looks amazing!!!
Thanks, Melissa!
Oh my I haven’t had a homemade cheesecake in such a long long time and this looks soo good :) Happy Easter :)
Happy Easter, Becca! I hope you get a nice long break from school. :)
If I double the recipe but there is only two of us, please don’t judge. I think I could handle the full size. It looks amazing!
Haha. If you have better self-control than I do, go for it! ;)
This carrot cheesecake looks just irresistible! I must add it on the list :) Thanks
I hope you’ll get a chance to try it! :)
Oh my goodness, this cake looks so yummy!! LOVE the recipe!
Thanks a bunch, Katrina! :)