Spiced Carrot Bread Recipe (Maple Sweetened, Whole Wheat)

4.67 from 3 votes

Spiced Carrot Bread Recipe (Maple Sweetened, Whole Wheat)

An easy, quick carrot bread recipe made with whole wheat flour, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, and allspice, and sweetened only with maple syrup - perfect for breakfast, snacks and even a healthy dessert.

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time1 hr

Total Time1 hr 15 mins

Course: Breads

Cuisine: American

Servings: loaf

Calories: 231kcal

Author: Jami Boys

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat flour*
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/4 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup butter melted (plus more for greasing)
1 large egg
2 1/2 cups shredded carrots
1/2 to 2/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional

Optional Glaze:

3 ounces cream cheese softened
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8x4-inch loaf pan with softened butter using a pastry brush (or line the pan with parchment and grease only the ends).
Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and allspice.
In a small bowl or glass measuring cup stir together the wet ingredients with a fork: yogurt, maple syrup, butter, and egg. Pour this into the dry ingredients and mix just until the flour is combined. Fold in the carrots along with the nuts (if using) - the dough will be thick.
Spread the dough in the prepared pan, using a spatula to smooth the top evenly. Bake for 55 to 65 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a metal rack to cool completely.

When cool, make optional glaze:

Combine softened cream cheese** and maple syrup with a whisk until smooth. If needed, use a bit more syrup to thin more, 1 teaspoon at a time.
Use a spoon to pour evenly over the loaf.
Refrigerate to set glaze.

Notes

*Regular, white whole wheat, and whole wheat pastry all work (whole wheat pastry will give you the lightest texture - the bread in the photos was made with regular whole wheat).

**If your cream cheese isn't fully softened you will get lumps in your glaze that will be impossible to whisk out.

Note on the nutrition amounts: the numbers were calculated on how the bread is illustrated in the photos - with the optional nuts and glaze.

Nutrition