Description
Carrot cake bars bring sweet comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dessert plate. Packed with warm spices and creamy frosting, these simple treats turn an ordinary afternoon into a delightful memory.
Ingredients
Scale
Cake Base:
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups finely shredded carrots
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
Optional Mix-ins:
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan with cooking spray and parchment paper. Ensure your pan is completely covered to prevent sticking.
- Whisk 1 ½ cups flour, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg, and ¼ teaspoon ginger in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
- In a separate large bowl, combine ½ cup vegetable oil, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 large eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Mix until the ingredients create a smooth, uniform texture.
- Gradually incorporate the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined, avoiding overmixing.
- Fold in 1 ½ cups finely shredded carrots, and if desired, mix in ½ cup chopped walnuts and ½ cup raisins.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly with a spatula to create a smooth surface.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes at 350°F. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center – it should come out clean.
- Remove from the oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan for about 1 hour.
- For the frosting, beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese and ¼ cup softened butter until smooth and creamy.
- Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture. Beat until light and fluffy.
- Once the bars are fully cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly across the top using an offset spatula.
- Cut into squares and serve at room temperature. Store any remaining bars in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Grate carrots finely to ensure they distribute evenly and create a tender texture throughout the bars.
- For a healthier version, swap half the vegetable oil with applesauce to reduce fat without losing moisture.
- Toast chopped nuts before adding them to the batter to enhance their nutty flavor and add extra crunch.
- If baking at high altitude, reduce sugar by 1 tablespoon and add 2 tablespoons extra flour to prevent the bars from falling flat.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert Bars
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 282 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 146 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 33 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 3.5 g
- Cholesterol: 43 mg