Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Carrot cake bars with cream cheese frosting are soft, moist dessert bars made with warm spices, grated carrots, and a rich tangy frosting for a simple twist on classic carrot cake.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25–30 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 12–16 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups finely grated carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- 200 g cream cheese (softened)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking pan with parchment paper.
- Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, mix oil, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until combined.
- Add eggs one at a time, then mix in vanilla extract.
- Fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined.
- Stir in grated carrots and walnuts if using.
- Pour batter into pan and bake for 25–30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool completely before frosting.
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth, then add powdered sugar and vanilla.
- Spread frosting over cooled bars and slice to serve.
Notes
- Do not overmix batter to avoid dense texture.
- Freshly grated carrots give best moisture and flavor.
- Bars should be fully cooled before frosting.
- Can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
- Optional add-ins include raisins, coconut, or pineapple.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: N/A
- Sugar: N/A
- Sodium: N/A
- Fat: N/A
- Saturated Fat: N/A
- Unsaturated Fat: N/A
- Trans Fat: N/A
- Carbohydrates: N/A
- Fiber: N/A
- Protein: N/A
- Cholesterol: N/A
