Decadent Carrot Cake Bars – Moist, Spiced & Topped with Cream Cheese Frosting
These Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the ultimate treat for carrot cake lovers! Moist, tender, and perfectly spiced, then topped with a rich and creamy cream cheese frosting. Easy to make in a pan, perfect for dessert, snack time, or holiday baking. Everyone will be asking for seconds!
Equipment
- Mixing bowls
- Electric mixer or whisk
- Spatula
- Measuring cups & spoons
- 9×13-inch baking pan
- Cooling rack
- Optional: food processor for finely shredded carrots
Ingredients
For the Bars:
- 2 cups finely shredded carrots (about 4 medium carrots)
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¾ cup brown sugar, packed
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans, ½ cup raisins, ½ cup shredded coconut
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Optional: 1–2 tsp milk for desired consistency
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or line with parchment paper.
- Prep Carrots: Grate finely. Optional: use a food processor for uniform texture.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk eggs, oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, and vanilla until combined.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
- Combine Batter: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
- Add Optional Ingredients: Fold in nuts, raisins, or coconut.
- Bake Bars: Pour batter into prepared pan and smooth top. Bake 35–40 minutes, rotating pan halfway. Insert a toothpick to check; it should come out clean or with moist crumbs.
- Cool: Let bars cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
- Prepare Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla. Adjust consistency with milk if needed.
- Frost Bars: Spread evenly over cooled bars. Garnish with nuts, coconut, or cinnamon if desired. Slice into 12 bars.
Notes
- Fold ingredients gently to maintain a tender crumb.
- Cool bars completely before frosting to prevent melting.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 4–5 days.
- Freeze unfrosted bars for up to 2 months; thaw overnight before frosting.
- Optional variations: chocolate chips, pineapple, extra spices, or mini bar version for portability.