Gluten Free Carrot Cake

Istock Photo

I haven't posted a recipe for awhile but thought I'd let you know how my first experiment with gluten free baking turned out. A couple of my co-workers are gluten intolerant and I wanted to be sensitive to this when bringing a cake to celebrate my boss' birthday. Her favorite dessert is carrot cake so I checked out several gluten free carrot cake recipes and settled on this one. I purchased a bag of gluten free flour at my local store and thought all was good.

 

However, when I finally got around to starting the cake at 10 last night I realized the instructions on the bag recommended adding a teaspoon of xanthum gum. Huh? Apparently I could also use guar gum. Well, since I had neither and was already in my jammies I sent DH to the grocery store where he was able to find a bag of xanthum gum after only one phone call home. The cake came out of the oven just before midnight, I frosted it this morning and here is the finished result.

 

I have to admit that, after tasting the dough and finding it had a somewhat unpleasant after-taste I was afraid I'd have to toss the cake and buy something else. However after the cake was baked and frosted I really couldn't tell the difference and it went over well at work. So if you happen to be looking for a gluten free carrot cake recipe, I would recommend this recipe. Just be sure you also have xanthum or guar gum on hand!

The plants in my front porch urn succumbed to the summer heat and I have been patiently waiting to replant for fall. While shopping for the gluten free flour last night I came across some lovely small mums at Lowes (I kind of got distracted) and couldn't resist. Tonight I repotted the urn and added a new millet plant, a tropical plant from my deck and a sweet potato vine from the garden that has been limping along. In a couple of weeks I'll add a little fall color with a small faux pumpkin. 

Yay! We're ready to welcome fall!