Description
These Carrot Cake Bars combine the moist, spiced goodness of traditional carrot cake with the convenience of a bar format, making them perfect for an easy dessert or snack. A luscious cream cheese frosting layer adds the classic tangy sweetness that complements the warm spices and shredded carrots throughout the cake bars.
Ingredients
Scale
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 ounces block-style cream cheese, room temperature
- â…“ cup granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
Carrot Cake Bars
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¾ cup finely shredded carrots, packed
Instructions
- Prepare the cream cheese frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract together until smooth and creamy. Add the egg yolk and continue beating until fully combined. Set aside.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, salt, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg to ensure even distribution of spices and leavening agents.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another large bowl, whisk the melted butter with the light brown sugar and granulated sugar until smooth. Add the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until well combined.
- Combine wet and dry: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined. Be careful not to overmix to maintain a tender texture.
- Incorporate shredded carrots: Fold the finely shredded carrots into the batter evenly, adding moisture and subtle sweetness.
- Assemble the bars: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease or line a baking pan with parchment paper. Spread half of the carrot cake batter evenly into the pan. Dollop the cream cheese frosting over the batter and gently spread it in an even layer. Then carefully spread the remaining carrot cake batter over the frosting, trying to cover it as best as possible.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 35 to 40 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick in the center; it should come out with a few moist crumbs but no raw batter.
- Cool and serve: Remove the bars from the oven and allow them to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before cutting into squares. This helps the frosting set and bars to hold their shape.
Notes
- Use room temperature ingredients for better mixing and smooth batter.
- Be gentle when spreading the second layer of batter over the cream cheese frosting to prevent mixing the layers too much.
- You can add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans to the batter for extra texture.
- Store the bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator to keep the cream cheese frosting fresh.
- Allow bars to come to room temperature before serving for best flavor and texture.
