Description
Carrot Cake Bars bring a delightful twist to classic dessert comfort, packed with warm spices and sweet carrots that dance across your taste buds. Topped with cream cheese frosting, these bars deliver a homemade treat perfect for sharing with friends and family during any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 3 large eggs
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon ginger
Frosting and Optional Add-ins:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese
- ½ cup (1 stick or 113 grams) unsalted butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the baking workspace by setting the oven to precisely 350°F (175°C) and lining a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper or applying a light grease coating.
- Sift 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, and ½ teaspoon ginger into a large mixing bowl.
- Crack 3 large eggs into a separate bowl and whisk with 1 cup granulated sugar and ½ cup packed brown sugar until the mixture becomes smooth and slightly frothy.
- Pour ¾ cup vegetable oil and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the egg mixture, whisking continuously to create a uniform blend.
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently to prevent overmixing and maintain a light texture.
- Carefully incorporate 2 cups freshly shredded carrots into the batter, along with ½ cup chopped walnuts and ½ cup raisins if desired.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula to ensure consistent thickness.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick near the center.
- Remove the pan from the oven and allow the bars to rest for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack for complete cooling.
- Prepare the frosting by beating 8 oz softened cream cheese and ½ cup softened unsalted butter until perfectly smooth.
- Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture, whipping until light and fluffy.
- Once the bars have cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly across the surface.
- Slice into squares or rectangles, creating your desired portion sizes for serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients to help everything blend smoothly and create a more consistent texture in your bars.
- Grate carrots finely to ensure they distribute evenly and create a tender crumb throughout the cake.
- For a healthier version, substitute half the oil with unsweetened applesauce and use whole wheat flour for added nutrition.
- Make sure to cool the bars completely before frosting, or the cream cheese topping will melt and become runny instead of creamy and spreadable.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 322 kcal
- Sugar: 29 g
- Sodium: 138 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg