Description
Carrot Cake Bars are a twist on the traditional carrot cake, offering rich flavors in a convenient bar form. Moist, delicious, and often topped with a homemade cream cheese frosting, these bars are perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs
- 3 cups grated carrots
- 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained (optional)
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients:
- 1 (8-ounce) package low-fat cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups sifted powdered sugar (use more/less to achieve your desired consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan by greasing it or lining it with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together all dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the vegetable oil and eggs together. Add in grated carrots and pineapple (if using), mixing well.
- Gradually combine the wet mixture with the dry ingredients, folding gently until just combined. Fold in nuts if desired.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the bars to cool for 10 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the cream cheese frosting, combine 1 (8-ounce) package low-fat cream cheese (softened), 2 tablespoons butter (softened), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 3 cups sifted powdered sugar in a mixing bowl. Adjust the amount of powdered sugar to achieve your desired frosting consistency. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars and cut into squares.
Notes
- Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense bars.
- Use fresh, grated carrots for the best texture.
- If using frosting, let the bars cool completely before applying to prevent melting.
- You can freeze the bars for up to three months for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 23g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: Carrot Cake Bars, carrot cake squares, homemade carrot cake, easy carrot cake, moist carrot bars, carrot cake dessert, simple carrot cake bars