Description
These Decadent Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the ultimate hybrid of comfort and elegance. Packed with moist shredded carrots and warm spices, and topped with a rich, tangy cream cheese frosting, they’re the perfect handheld treat for any season. Whether served at a brunch, party, or tucked into a lunchbox, these bars will vanish quickly!
Ingredients
1 cup brown sugar
0.5 cup granulated sugar
0.75 cup vegetable oil
3 large eggs
2 cups finely shredded carrots
1.5 cups all-purpose flour
1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
0.5 teaspoon baking powder
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.5 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
8 oz cream cheese, softened
0.5 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
0.25 cup chopped pecans for topping
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease and line an 8×8 or 9×9-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, and oil. Whisk in the eggs one at a time until smooth and emulsified.
3. Fold in the finely shredded carrots until well distributed throughout the mixture.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
5. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Stir until just combined. Fold in nuts, if using.
6. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth out the top.
7. Bake for 30–35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow to cool completely on a wire rack.
8. While bars cool, prepare the frosting by beating cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add powdered sugar gradually, followed by vanilla extract.
9. Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled carrot cake bars using an offset spatula.
10. Sprinkle chopped pecans over the top. Chill slightly for clean slices. Cut into bars and serve.
Notes
Use freshly grated carrots (not pre-shredded) for maximum moisture and flavor.
Let the bars cool completely before frosting to prevent melting or sliding.
For a flavor twist, add a pinch of cloves or orange zest to the batter.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 290
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg