Description
Mouthwatering Carrot Cake Bars bring classic comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen with warm spices and rich cream cheese frosting. Sweet layers of moist cake and creamy topping promise delightful moments that connect family and friends around a cherished dessert experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Dry Ingredients:
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) all-purpose flour
- 1.5 teaspoons (7.5 milliliters) baking powder
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) baking soda
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) salt
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) ground ginger
Wet Ingredients and Sugars:
- 0.5 cup (118 milliliters) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (237 milliliters) granulated sugar
- 0.5 cup (118 milliliters) brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) grated carrots
- 0.5 cup (118 milliliters) crushed pineapple, drained
- 0.5 cup (118 milliliters) chopped walnuts (optional)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 0.25 cup (59 milliliters) unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups (473 milliliters) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 350F (175C) and coating a 9×13-inch baking pan with grease for optimal cake bar performance.
- Combine all dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, whisking flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger until perfectly integrated.
- Utilize an electric mixer to cream butter with granulated and brown sugars, whipping until light and fluffy with consistent texture.
- Incorporate eggs individually into the butter mixture, ensuring thorough blending after each addition, then introduce vanilla extract for enhanced flavor profile.
- Gradually merge dry ingredients into wet mixture, stirring carefully to maintain a smooth, well-incorporated batter without overmixing.
- Delicately fold grated carrots, crushed pineapple, and chopped walnuts into the batter, distributing ingredients evenly throughout the mixture.
- Transfer batter to prepared pan, spreading uniformly, and bake for 25-30 minutes until a toothpick emerges clean when inserted into the center.
- Allow cake bars to cool completely at room temperature, creating a perfect base for frosting.
- Craft cream cheese frosting by blending softened cream cheese and butter until achieving a silky, seamless consistency.
- Introduce powdered sugar and vanilla extract to the cream cheese mixture, whipping until achieving a luxuriously smooth frosting texture.
- Apply frosting generously across the cooled cake bars, creating an even, delectable topping that complements the spiced cake base.
- Slice into square portions and serve, presenting a decadent dessert that balances moist cake with rich, creamy frosting.
Notes
- Check carrot moisture by squeezing out excess liquid before adding to batter, preventing soggy bars.
- Replace walnuts with sunflower seeds for nut-free version or add pumpkin seeds for extra crunch.
- Use gluten-free flour blend to make recipe celiac-friendly without compromising texture.
- Consider reducing sugar by 25% and substituting with applesauce for healthier alternative that maintains moisture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 312 kcal
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 160 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 52 mg