Carrot cake with hemp flour: carrot cake in Polish
Recipe for moist carrot cake with hemp flour, without wheat and gluten. Measured composition of hemp flour and tips on how not to dry out the cake.
Carrot cake is one of those baked goods where substituting wheat flour for hemp flour is the least risky. Carrots bring moisture and natural sweetness, the spices build aroma, and hemp flour adds a nutty, slightly earthy profile that fits well in spiced cake. There is a catch, however, that most recipes do not mention: hemp flour is not the same as ground hemp seeds. It is made from the press cake left after oil extraction, so it has different proportions of protein and fat than seeds, which changes how the cake absorbs moisture. Below you will find the recipe, the measured composition of both raw materials, how to store the flour, and the moment to take the cake out of the oven to avoid it becoming dry.
KEY INFORMATION
• Hemp flour of the Fedora variety contains 30.7% protein and 13.6% fat (Siano et al., Molecules, 2018).
• Whole hemp seeds contain 25.6 g of protein and 33.8 g of dietary fiber per 100 g of dry mass (Mattila et al., 2018).
• Flour is made from the press cake after oil extraction, so it has more protein and less fat than seeds.
• Carrots gradually release moisture during baking and balance the absorbency of hemp flour.
What does hemp flour bring to carrot cake?
Hemp flour brings protein and fiber fractions in amounts that no popular gluten-free flour provides, along with a nutty aroma that complements cinnamon and ginger. In the composition analysis of the Fedora variety, the flour contained 30.7% protein, 13.6% fat, and 41.6% total carbohydrates (Siano et al., Molecules, 2018).
This last number is sometimes cited as fiber content, which is not accurate. The authors marked carbohydrates from the difference, and this pool included cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin along with soluble and insoluble fiber. It is the sum of several fractions, not just dietary fiber.
The difference between flour and seeds is more important than it seems. In the same study, whole seeds had 24.8% protein with 24.5% fat, while flour had 30.7% protein with 13.6% fat. Hemp flour is the press cake left after oil extraction: fat is removed, and protein and carbohydrates concentrate in what remains. Ground hemp seeds will not replace it in this recipe, as they will add almost twice as much fat, and the mixture will spread in the mold.
For baking, one more factor matters. The high proportion of fiber fractions causes hemp flour to bind water differently than starchy wheat flour and release it more quickly in a hot oven. Carrots balance this out, as they gradually release their own water throughout the time the cake is setting.
How much protein and fiber does hemp flour have?
The answer depends on whether we are talking about flour or seeds, and these two values are often confused. For flour of the Fedora variety, the work of Siano et al. reports 30.7% protein, 13.6% fat, 41.6% total carbohydrates, and 6.2% ash.
Dietary fiber itself was reported by Mattila et al. for whole hemp seeds: 33.8 g per 100 g of dry mass, of which 30.9 g is attributed to the insoluble fraction and 2.9 g to the soluble one. The seeds contained 25.6 g of protein and 34.6 g of fat per 100 g of dry mass (Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 2018).
This same publication corrects a claim that circulates in recipes. The highest protein content, above 30 g per 100 g of dry mass, was found in faba beans, blue lupins, and rapeseed press cakes. Hemp is not on this list, so attributing 30% protein to hemp seeds based on this work is an overstatement. A value close to 30% applies to flour, and that from a different study.
What do you need for carrot cake with hemp flour?
The ratio of the two flours determines the structure. Hemp flour alone gives a dense and distinctly bitter cake, so we combine it with lighter rice flour in a ratio close to three to two. Grate the carrot on a fine grater and squeeze out the excess juice, otherwise, the mixture will be too runny.
Buy hemp flour in small packages and keep it sealed in a cool place. After oil extraction, it still contains 13.6% fat, and this can go rancid in heat and light, imparting a bitter taste to the baked good. Fresh flour smells nutty and slightly grassy; a detectable note of old oil means the cake will come out bitter regardless of the proportions.
- 300 g of carrot, grated on a fine grater
- 120 g of hemp flour
- 80 g of rice or buckwheat flour
- 3 eggs size M
- 100 ml of melted coconut or rapeseed oil
- 100 g of brown sugar, erythritol, or xylitol
- 1 teaspoon of baking powder
- half a teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of cinnamon
- half a teaspoon of ground ginger
- quarter teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon of orange juice, optional
- pinch of salt
- optional 50 g of chopped walnuts or 40 g of raisins
How to bake carrot cake with hemp flour step by step?
The whole process takes about 55 minutes: 15 minutes of work at the counter and 35 to 40 minutes of baking at 175 degrees. Preheat the oven so that the temperature is stable when the mixture goes inside. Line a round mold with a diameter of 24 cm or a rectangular one measuring 20 by 30 cm with baking paper.
- Whisk eggs with sugar and oil for 3 minutes until the mixture froths and lightens. Add vanilla, orange juice, and grated carrot, then mix until evenly combined.
- In a second bowl, combine hemp flour, rice flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Mix thoroughly, as clumps of baking soda can create bitter spots in the finished cake.
- Pour dry ingredients into wet and mix with a spatula just until dry clumps disappear. The mixture will be thick, orange with a greenish tint. Now fold in nuts or raisins if using.
- Transfer the mixture to the mold and smooth the surface. Bake at 175 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.
- Check with a toothpick starting from the 35th minute. The toothpick pulled from the center should be dry or have dry crumbs. Carrots retain moisture, so the center may feel soft to the touch despite being ready.
- Cool the cake on a rack for at least 45 minutes. Frosting applied to warm cake soaks in and softens the top. On a cold cake, spread 200 g of cream cheese mixed with 2 tablespoons of honey and a teaspoon of vanilla.
How to modify this recipe?
The base is stable enough to withstand several substitutions without recalculating the whole. The ratio of hemp flour to rice flour remains the same in every variant; only the flavor layer or source of sweetness changes.
| Variant | Change in the recipe | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| With pumpkin | Replace 100 g of carrot with grated pumpkin | Milder flavor, darker flesh |
| Cupcakes | Use a 12 muffin mold instead of a springform pan | Baking time drops to 22-25 minutes |
| No added sugar | Replace 100 g of sugar with 200 g of mashed bananas | More moisture, reduce oil by 2 tablespoons |
| Nutty | Fold in 50 g of walnuts at the end | Distinct crunchy texture in the flesh |
Cake baked the day before cuts more evenly and has a more uniform moisture content, as the water from the carrot has time to spread throughout the flesh. The same proportions of flours work well in brownies with hemp flour and in chocolate muffins with hemp flour, and a wider range of applications for this flour is described in the text about autumn dishes with hemp flour.
Frequently asked questions
Is carrot cake with hemp flour gluten-free?
Yes, because hemp is not a gluten grain, and rice flour is also gluten-free. However, if you have celiac disease, check the certification of the baking powder, as some products contain wheat starch as a carrier. The risk of cross-contamination in the mill is also significant.
Does hemp flour contain THC?
Hemp flour is made from seeds that may carry trace amounts of THC from surface contamination. Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 sets the maximum allowable level for ground hemp seeds and products derived from them at 3.0 mg/kg. Baking with such flour does not have intoxicating effects.
What is the difference between hemp flour and ground hemp seeds?
Flour is the press cake left after oil extraction, so it has less fat and more protein. In the Fedora variety, the flour had 30.7% protein and 13.6% fat, while whole seeds had 24.8% protein and 24.5% fat (Siano et al., 2018). A one-to-one substitution will dilute the mixture.
How to store carrot cake with hemp flour?
Without frosting, it lasts up to 3 days in an airtight container at room temperature and up to 7 days in the refrigerator. With cream cheese frosting, only in the refrigerator, up to 5 days. Slices without frosting can be frozen and stored for up to 3 months.
What can replace rice flour in this recipe?
Buckwheat flour gives a more pronounced flavor that pairs well with cinnamon. Gluten-free oat flour is neutral and slightly improves fluffiness. Almond flour adds more fat, so reduce the oil by a tablespoon. The amount of hemp flour remains unchanged.
Why does cake with hemp flour come out dry?
The most common causes are too high a proportion of hemp flour and overbaking. Fiber fractions bind water strongly, and in the oven, they release it quickly. Check with a toothpick starting from the 35th minute and do not wait for the top to harden across the entire surface.
This article is for informational and educational purposes and does not replace consultation with a doctor. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medications, or have chronic conditions, consult the use of supplements or herbs with a specialist.
Author: Michał Waluk · Published: 2026-06-22 · Updated: 2026-08-15
