Description
Delight in these moist and flavorful Cream Cheese Carrot Cake Bars, perfect for a sweet snack or dessert. Made with freshly grated carrots, warm spices, and a luscious cream cheese frosting, these bars combine the classic taste of carrot cake in an easy-to-make, portable form.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups grated carrots
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to evenly distribute the leavening agents and spices.
- Combine Butter and Sugar: In a large bowl, beat the melted unsalted butter and granulated sugar until the mixture is smooth and well combined, creating a creamy base for the batter.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition to ensure proper emulsification and a homogenous batter.
- Incorporate Carrots and Dry Ingredients: Stir in the grated carrots, then gently fold in the dry ingredient mixture until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the bars.
- Transfer and Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking dish and smooth the surface. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating doneness.
- Cool: Allow the baked carrot cake bars to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack to set properly before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat the softened cream cheese and powdered sugar together until the mixture is smooth and creamy to create a rich topping.
- Frost and Serve: Evenly spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled bars. Cut into squares and serve to enjoy a delicious, moist carrot cake treat.
Notes
- Ensure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for a smooth frosting without lumps.
- Grate the carrots finely for better texture and integration into the batter.
- Do not overmix the batter once the dry ingredients are added to keep the bars tender.
- You can add chopped nuts like walnuts or pecans for added crunch, if desired.
- Store the bars refrigerated due to the cream cheese frosting, and consume within 3-4 days for best freshness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
