Flourless Carrot Cake

This crunchy, spicy carrot cake is much lighter and less cloying than most I’ve tasted. It’s important to grate the carrots on the fine holes of your grater, or else they’ll remain too crunchy. For best results, wrap the cake tightly in plastic after it cools and serve it the next day. It will keep for five days in the refrigerator if wrapped airtight.

• 1 1/2 cups (1/2 pound) unsalted toasted almonds
• 1/4 cup raw brown (turbinado) sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• 4 large eggs
• 1/3 cup organic white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups finely grated carrots (about 10 ounces)

1. Heat the oven to 350 degrees with a rack in the middle. Oil a 9-inch springform pan, and line it with parchment. Lightly oil the parchment.

2. Combine the almonds and the turbinado sugar in a food processor fitted with the steel blade. Blend until the almonds are finely ground. Add the baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and lemon zest, and pulse together.

3. Beat the eggs until thick in the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or with an electric beater. Add the organic sugar, and continue to beat until the mixture is thick and forms a ribbon when lifted from the bowl with a spatula. Beat in the vanilla. Add the almond mixture and the carrots in three alternating additions, and slowly beat or fold in each time.

4. Scrape the batter into the prepared cake pan. Place in the oven, and bake one hour until firm to the touch and beginning to pull away from the pan. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cake should come out clean. Remove from the heat, and allow to cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Run a knife around the edges of the pan, and carefully remove the spring form ring. Allow the cake to cool completely, then wrap tightly in plastic.

Yield: Serves 10 to 12.

Advance preparation: This cake is a good keeper if wrapped well. Refrigerate for up to five days.

Nutritional information per serving (10 servings): 209 calories; 13 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 85 grams cholesterol; 18 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 135 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 7 grams protein

Nutritional information per serving (12 servings): 174 calories; 11 grams fat; 1 gram saturated fat; 71 grams cholesterol; 15 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 112 milligrams sodium (does not include salt added during preparation); 6 grams protein