
This carrot cake is a family favorite. It is moist, dense and absolutely delicious. You could technically call it a carrot pineapple cake because it uses pineapple as well as carrot, but the flavors compliment each other so nicely, that all you taste is delicious cake without thinking about either the carrots or the pineapple. If you do not want to make a dairy-free cream cheese frosting, you can use a dairy-free vanilla frosting. You can use a store-bought frosting like Duncan Hines or Pillsbury vanilla frosting or make the dairy-free vanilla frosting on this site. There are a couple of store-bought brands that make a "Cream Cheese" Frosting that are surprisingly dairy-free but I think the Vanilla frosting tastes better. Duncan Hines Creamy Homestyle Cream Cheese Frosting and Pillsbury Cream Cheese Frosting are both options if you are curious to try a cream cheese frosting made without dairy.
Heat oven to 325 degrees F. In a large bowl, stir together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
In another bowl combine carrots, pineapple and vanilla. Mix well. Add applesauce, oil and sugar and stir until well combined.
Add flour mixture gradually, stirring until all ingredients are just moistened. Be careful not to over-mix or cake will fall.
Pour into a greased 13x9 pan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until cake springs back and toothpick comes out clean.
Allow cake to cool completely before frosting.
Because dairy free cream cheese is not carried in my local grocery store, I usually used a homemade or store bought vanilla frosting on this cake. There are store-bought cream cheese frosting options but I don't particularly like the flavor. If you happen to have easy access to dairy free cream cheese, you can try this cream cheese recipe with the cake.
Beat Toffuti cream cheese alternative, softened butter alternative, and vanilla.
Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time and beat until fluffy.
Frost completely cooled cake.