Description
These Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are moist, spiced, and topped with a rich, tangy layer of smooth frosting. Easy to slice and perfect for sharing, they bring all the flavor of classic carrot cake with half the effort.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups grated carrots
- ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (for frosting)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or line a 9×13-inch pan with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- In another bowl, beat eggs, brown sugar, granulated sugar, oil, and vanilla until smooth.
- Fold in dry ingredients, followed by grated carrots and walnuts if using.
- Spread batter evenly into the prepared pan.
- Bake for 25–30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely.
- To make frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla, and beat until fluffy.
- Spread frosting over cooled bars. Chill for 10 minutes before slicing.
Notes
- Grate carrots fresh for best moisture and texture.
- Let bars cool fully before frosting to prevent melting.
- Use toasted walnuts for extra flavor.
- Add a pinch of ginger for a deeper spice profile.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 190mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg