Soft, warmly spiced, gently sweet, and layered with all the comfort of carrot cake — but with added chai spice depth that makes it feel just a little more intentional.

Perfect for:

• Weekend baking sessions
• Afternoon tea that feels slightly elevated
• Using up lonely carrots in the crisper
• Anyone who thinks carrot cake is elite (correct opinion)

And yes — this is scaled for a small loaf tin (4–6 slices). Because we are not baking café slabs for no reason.

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🍂 Why Carrot & Chai Work So Well in Autumn

Autumn baking = spice season.

Carrot brings:

• Natural sweetness
• Moisture
• Fibre
• Budget-friendly practicality

Chai spices (cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves) bring warmth without needing excess sugar.

Together? Balanced comfort.

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🛒 Ingredients (1 Small Loaf – 4–6 Slices)

Dry Ingredients

• 1 cup plain flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp cardamom
• Tiny pinch cloves

Wet Ingredients

• ¾ cup finely grated carrot (about 1 medium carrot)
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup neutral oil
• 1 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla

Optional Add-Ins

• 1–2 tbsp chopped walnuts
• 1 tbsp raisins

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👩‍🍳 Method

1️⃣ Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 170°C (fan 160°C).
Line or lightly grease a small loaf tin.

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2️⃣ Mix Wet Ingredients

In a bowl:

• Whisk egg and sugar
• Stir in oil, milk, and vanilla
• Fold in grated carrot

The colour should already look promising.

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3️⃣ Mix Dry Ingredients

Whisk flour, baking soda, salt, and all spices together.

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4️⃣ Combine

Fold dry ingredients gently into wet mixture.

Stir in walnuts or raisins if using.

Do not overmix — carrot cake should be tender, not dense.

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5️⃣ Bake

Pour into prepared tin and smooth top.

Bake 40–45 minutes or until golden and a skewer comes out clean.

Cool in tin 10 minutes before transferring to rack.

Allow to cool completely before topping.

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✨ Light Chai Cream Cheese Topping

We keep it thin and balanced — not overly sweet.

Ingredients:

• 60g cream cheese, softened
• 1–2 tbsp icing sugar
• Pinch cinnamon
• Tiny pinch cardamom

Whisk until smooth and spread lightly over cooled loaf.

You want flavour, not frosting overload.

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🥗 Nutritional Highlights (Per Slice – Approximate)

• Fibre from carrot
• Healthy fats from nuts (if using)
• Warming spices
• Moderate sugar compared to café versions

This is indulgent, but sensible.

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🧊 Storage & Freezer Tips

• Unfrosted loaf: Freeze sliced up to 3 months
• Frosted loaf: Fridge up to 4–5 days
• Best method: Freeze unfrosted, frost fresh

Reheat unfrosted slices lightly before adding topping.

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💡 Plan4One Smart Baking Tips

• No cardamom? Just increase cinnamon slightly.
• Want extra moisture? Add 1 tbsp Greek yoghurt.
• Prefer muffins? Bake 18–22 minutes instead.
• Watching sugar? Reduce slightly — carrot provides sweetness.

Carrot cake is forgiving. We like forgiving recipes.

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☕ Perfect Pairings

• Chai latte (obviously)
• Flat white
• Long black
• Or eaten cold from the fridge at 9pm because you “just wanted a small slice”

It’s called balance.

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🍁 Why This Works for Plan4One Readers

You don’t need towering layered carrot cake.

You need:
✔ Scaled properly
✔ Freezer-friendly
✔ Balanced sweetness
✔ Budget-conscious ingredients
✔ Real-life practicality

This Spiced Carrot & Chai Cake delivers comfort without excess.

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If you bake this, tell me — walnuts or raisins? Full spice blend or simplified version?

Share it with a fellow solo baker or subscribe to Plan4One so you don’t miss the next cosy bake in our autumn series.