Decadent Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
These Decadent Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are a delightful treat combining moist, spiced carrot cake with a rich and creamy frosting. Perfect for gatherings or a sweet snack, they blend the warmth of cinnamon and ginger with crunchy nuts and luscious cream cheese topping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 12-15 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Cake
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground ginger
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups shredded carrots
- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to ensure the bars don’t stick while baking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt until evenly combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, beat the vegetable oil and eggs together until fluffy and smooth, creating a rich base.
- Mix Batter: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing and ensure moist bars.
- Add Carrots and Nuts: Fold in the shredded carrots along with chopped walnuts or pecans if using, evenly distributing them through the batter.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, signaling doneness.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting: While the bars cool, blend the softened cream cheese, sifted powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
- Frost and Serve: Once the bars have completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top, then cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- For a nut-free version, simply omit the walnuts or pecans.
- Ensure the bars are fully cooled before frosting to prevent the cream cheese from melting.
- You can substitute coconut oil for vegetable oil for a slightly different flavor.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Keywords: carrot cake bars, cream cheese frosting, carrot dessert, spiced carrot cake, easy carrot bars
