Description
These Irresistible Carrot Cake Bars with Luscious Cream Cheese Frosting combine moist, spiced carrot cake with a rich and creamy topping. Perfect for a crowd, these bars are easy to make and offer all the flavor of a classic carrot cake in a convenient bar form.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups shredded carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking pan to ensure the carrot cake bars don’t stick during baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix the shredded carrots, eggs, vegetable oil, and vanilla extract until fully incorporated and smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, stirring gently just until everything is moistened and combined without overmixing to keep the bars tender.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared 9×13-inch pan and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Prepare Frosting: While the bars cool on a wire rack, beat the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until the frosting is creamy and spreadable.
- Frost and Serve: Once the carrot cake bars have cooled completely, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Cut into 16 squares and serve.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter are softened to room temperature for a smooth frosting.
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense bars; stir just until ingredients are combined.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep the frosting fresh.
- You can add chopped walnuts or raisins to the batter for extra texture if desired.
- If you prefer a less sweet frosting, reduce powdered sugar slightly.
