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Carrot Cake Bars

Carrot Cake Bars
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These Carrot Cake Bars combine moist, spiced flavors with a classic carrot cake taste, packed with fresh carrots, warm spices, and topped with a smooth cream cheese frosting. Easy to make and perfectly portable, these bars are ideal for a sweet snack, dessert, or bake sale treat, offering all the cozy comfort of traditional carrot cake in convenient individual servings.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

Wet Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup sugar (a mix of brown and granulated sugar, about ½ cup each)
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Main Add-ins

  • 2 cups grated fresh carrots (finely shredded)
  • ½ cup chopped nuts (optional; walnuts or pecans recommended)

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper for easy removal. Finely grate fresh carrots and measure all ingredients beforehand to simplify assembly.
  2. Mix the Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until evenly combined.
  3. Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with both sugars and vegetable oil until smooth. Stir in the vanilla extract for flavor.
  4. Fold in the Carrots and Nuts: Gently mix the grated carrots and chopped nuts into the wet ingredients. Gradually fold in the dry mixture until just combined; the batter should be thick but spreadable.
  5. Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  6. Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting: While the bars cool, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and vanilla extract until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
  7. Frost and Serve: Once the bars are completely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Slice into bars and enjoy.

Notes

  • Do not overmix the batter to avoid dense bars.
  • Grate carrots finely for better moisture distribution and smooth texture.
  • Use fresh ground spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for enhanced flavor.
  • Allow bars to cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
  • Use full-fat cream cheese for a richer, creamier frosting.
  • Optional: omit nuts or replace with seeds for a nut-free version.
  • For gluten-free bars, substitute all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend.
  • To reduce sugar, cut the amount by up to 25%, but expect slightly different texture and moisture.
  • Use a sharp knife chilled in warm water for cleaner, neater slices.
  • Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Nutrition

Keywords: carrot cake bars, carrot dessert, spiced carrot bars, cream cheese frosting, easy carrot cake, portable dessert

Find it online: https://mealsbymary.com/carrot-cake-bars/