Carrot Cake Bars Recipe
These Carrot Cake Bars Recipe are a moist, spiced dessert made with grated carrots, warm cinnamon, and chopped nuts. The batter is baked into soft, chewy bars and topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. Perfect for any occasion, they’re easy to make and offer the comforting flavor of traditional carrot cake in a convenient bar form.
Equipment
- Mixing bowls (2)
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Whisk or hand mixer
- Spatula
- Grater (for carrots)
- 9×13 inch baking pan
- Parchment paper (optional)
- Cooling rack
Ingredients
For the Cake Bars
- 1 ⅔ cups 210g all-purpose flour
- 8 oz about 2 cups freshly grated carrots
- ¾ cup 180ml avocado oil (or any neutral oil)
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup 100g packed brown sugar
- ½ cup 100g granulated sugar
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of ground cloves
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 tablespoons 60g unsalted butter, softened
- 4 oz 115g cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups 240g powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Wash and peel the carrots, then finely grate them using a hand grater or food processor. Set them aside for later.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Whisk them together until evenly blended.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil, and vanilla extract. Stir until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring gently as you go. Once everything is well mixed, fold in the grated carrots until they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and smooth out the top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack. While it cools, prepare the frosting: beat softened butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add vanilla extract, a pinch of salt and powdered sugar, then beat until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Once the cake has cooled, spread the frosting evenly over the top. Cut into bars and serve. For neater slices, you can refrigerate the cake for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting.