Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
These moist and flavorful Carrot Cake Bars combine finely grated fresh carrots with warm spices and a rich cream cheese frosting. Perfectly baked and cut into convenient bars, they make a delightful dessert or snack for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 9 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Scale
For the Carrot Cake Bars
- 3/4 cup avocado oil (or vegetable oil, or any mild-flavored oil)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch of ground cloves
- 8 ounces finely-grated fresh carrots
- optional: 1/2 cup chopped nuts or 1/4 cup raisins
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 1 (8-ounce) package low-fat cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups sifted powdered sugar (use more/less to achieve your desired consistency)
Instructions
- Prep oven and baking dish: Heat oven to 350°F. Mist a 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray, and set it aside for later.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until combined and smooth. Add in the eggs and vanilla extract, and whisk until smooth.
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground cinnamon, baking soda, fine sea salt, baking powder, ground nutmeg, and ground cloves until combined.
- Combine wet and dry mixtures: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the egg mixture, stirring until smooth. Fold in the finely grated fresh carrots and mix until evenly incorporated. If desired, fold in chopped nuts and/or raisins.
- Pour and bake: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the baking dish to a wire cooling rack and allow the cake to cool to room temperature.
- Make the frosting: In a separate mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, softened butter, and vanilla extract until smooth and evenly mixed. Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar and stir until the frosting reaches a smooth and spreadable consistency, adjusting powdered sugar quantity as needed.
- Frost and serve: Once the cake bars have cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Slice into bars, serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Ensure carrots are finely grated to blend smoothly into the batter and maintain the cake’s moist texture.
- You can substitute avocado oil with vegetable oil or any mild-flavored oil as preferred.
- Optional add-ins such as chopped nuts (e.g., walnuts or pecans) or raisins add texture and flavor but can be omitted for a simpler cake.
- Frosting consistency can be adjusted by varying the powdered sugar to achieve your preferred thickness.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator; these bars are best enjoyed within 3-4 days.
Keywords: carrot cake bars, carrot cake, cream cheese frosting, baked dessert, spiced carrot cake, easy carrot bars