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Vegan Pumpkin Cake (Paleo)

Moist and delicious Vegan Pumpkin Cake made grain-free, egg-free, and dairy-free. This paleo and vegan pumpkin cake is healthy enough to eat for breakfast!

This post is sponsored by Thrive® Culinary Algae Oil.

Paleo & Vegan Pumpkin Snack Cake with vegan "cream cheese" frosting - grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, super moist and delicious! | TheRoastedRoot.net

Made with almond flour, tapioca flour, coconut sugar, and algae oil, this grain-free vegan pumpkin cake is marvelously delicious while being a healthier dessert option.

I know what you’re thinking, and yes, it would be a shame to not eat this for breakfast. 😉

This paleo Vegan Pumpkin Cake arguably my favorite holiday-inspired dessert recipe I’ve made to date. It’s just simple, unpretentious, and beautifully flavored.

Paleo & Vegan Pumpkin Snack Cake with vegan "cream cheese" frosting - grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, super moist and delicious! | TheRoastedRoot.net

I used Thrive Algae Oil in the cake to keep it nice and moist while providing quality monounsaturated fats. Unlike olive oil, algae oil is virtually flavorless, so it doesn’t impact the flavor of the cake – all of the pumpkin spice flavor shines!

You have probably read this in my Roasted Winter Vegetable Quinoa Salad and Instant Pot Turmeric Chicken and Root Vegetables posts recently, but algae oil is generally what I use when I’m cooking at high temperatures. I also love it for baking due to how deliciously subtle the flavor is as well as its nutrition benefits.

Paleo & Vegan Pumpkin Snack Cake with vegan "cream cheese" frosting - grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, super moist and delicious! | TheRoastedRoot.net

Let’s discuss the dairy-free (and vegan) “cream cheese” frosting I used for the cake.

I simply whipped up a batch of my Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting, which is made with raw cashews that have been soaked, pure maple syrup, lemon juice, and a little almond milk.

I absolutely thoroughly enjoy the thick, creamy tangy frosting on top of the cake, but you can easily save yourself some time by skipping it altogether – the cake itself is nice and flavorful and doesn’t necessarily need additional pizzazz, but hey, if you’re going to get wet, you might as well swim, right?

Paleo & Vegan Pumpkin Snack Cake with vegan "cream cheese" frosting - grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, super moist and delicious! | TheRoastedRoot.net

Do note that the frosting recipe yields more than you need for the vegan pumpkin cake.

To me, this just means you get to brainstorm on how you’re going to use the rest – for frosting paleo cupcakes? Don’t mind if I do!

A sassy topping for a nice banana bread? Consuming as is, one spoonful at a time? You’ve got options and I trust you’ll make the right decisions.

Recipe Adaptations:

  • Replace the ground flax seed and water (flax “egg”) with 1 regular large egg.
  • Substitute hazelnut flour for the almond flour.
  • Swap arrowroot flour for the tapioca flour.
  • Use raw cane sugar instead of coconut sugar.
  • Omit the pecans from the topping or replace them with walnuts.
  • Make the vegan cream cheese frosting up to 5 days ahead of time in order to prepare this recipe in parts. You can also omit or replace the frosting with your topping of choice.

Paleo & Vegan Pumpkin Snack Cake with vegan "cream cheese" frosting - grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, super moist and delicious! | TheRoastedRoot.net

More Healthy Pumpkin Recipes:

For you and yours…

My cookbook, Paleo Power Bowls, is now available! CLICK HERE to check it out. Thank you for your support!

If you make this recipe, please feel free to share a photo and tag @TheRoastedRoot on Instagram!

Paleo & Vegan Pumpkin Snack Cake with vegan "cream cheese" frosting - grain-free, dairy-free, egg-free, super moist and delicious! | TheRoastedRoot.net

Paleo Vegan Pumpkin Snack Cake

This simple grain-free Paleo Vegan Pumpkin Snack Cake is full of warmly-spiced flavors for a delicious treat! Moist, fluffy, and so tasty!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
12 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp ground flax seed
  • 3 Tbsp water
  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/4 cup algae oil*
  • 1.5 cups finely ground almond flour
  • 1/3 cup tapioca flour
  • 1/3 cup coconut sugar
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

For Topping

Instructions

  • If preparing the Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting, do so ahead of time (up to 5 days).
  • Stir together the ground flax seed and water in a small bowl. Allow the mixture to sit, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes, until it thickens and is the consistency of an egg.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8” x 8” baking pan with parchment paper.
  • Once the flax egg is ready, transfer it to a bigger mixing bowl and add in the pureed pumpkin and algae oil. Stir this mixture until well-combined.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the remaining ingredients (almond flour through ground cinnamon) and stir well. Pour the wet pumpkin mixture into the bowl with the dry flour mixture and stir until combined.
  • Pour the cake batter into the prepared baking dish. Bake for 22 to 28 minutes, until the cake has set up in the center and edges are beginning to turn golden-brown.
  • Remove from oven and allow cake to cool completely before topping it with the cream cheese frosting.
  • Sprinkle the chopped pecans on top. Slice, serve, and enjoy!

Notes

*If you don't have algae oil on hand, use avocado oil or melted coconut oil.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 12 - Calories: 168kcal - Carbohydrates: 12g - Protein: 3g - Fat: 13g - Sugar: 8g
Course: Desserts & Treats
Cuisine: American
Keyword: almond flour, breakfast, gluten free, grain free, healthy cake recipe, paleo, pumpkin dessert recipe, vegan, vegan cake recipe, vegan pumpkin snack cake
Servings: 12 Servings
Calories: 168kcal
Author: Julia

 

Vegan Paleo Pumpkin Cake - grain-free, refined sugar-free, egg-free, dairy-free healthy cake recipe

Recipe Rating




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CindyMac

Sunday 3rd of October 2021

I am cracking up. I had never even heard of algae oil u til today. Thank you for expanding my repertoire. With that said... I searched for this elusive oil on The Amazon. This 4 oz bottle should be enough for the recipe.... but (the least expensive I could find) at $27 I think perhaps I will stick with coconut or perhaps one of my favorites, the flavorless grapeseed oil. Wiley's Finest Catch Free Vegan Omega 3 Liquid Supplement, Organic Plant-Based Algae Oil DHA + EPA Fatty Acids, Fish Oil Alternative, Supports Heart, Brain, Joint Health, Non-GMO, 4oz Mango Flavor https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084Z6ZSKW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_113FBNN6ZT53D4NZR869

CindyMac

Sunday 3rd of October 2021

Algae Oil.... seems a rather obscure ingredient. I appreciate being cutting edge but ...doesn’t seem like an oil that most kitchens (or grocers) would stock. Thank you for the modification of other possible oils as a replacement.

Julia

Monday 4th of October 2021

Hi Cindy!

As I mention in the post, you can replace it with avocado oil or coconut oil :) Hope you enjoy! xoxoxo

Sedna

Tuesday 27th of October 2020

I have had a pumpkin craving for a month but stay away from all the sugary stuff. You’re going to want the flax seeds to be ground. so flax meal is actually what you want, Enjoy the cake. We plan on making it this weekend. My mouth is actually watering as I am looking at the pictures.

Julia

Tuesday 27th of October 2020

So happy you like the cake, Sedna! xoxo

Caryl

Wednesday 16th of October 2019

Can Flax Seed Meal be used for flax seed? Thanks

Julia

Wednesday 16th of October 2019

Hi Caryl, Yes absolutely! You're going to want the flax seeds to be ground, so flax meal is actually what you want :D Enjoy the cake!

Laura Watson

Thursday 10th of October 2019

Can coconut oil , avocado oil or butter be used inplace of algae oil?

Julia

Saturday 12th of October 2019

Yes, absolutely!! All three will work :D xo

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