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–+ servings

Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

These decadent carrot cake bars are fluffy, moist, and topped with a rich cream cheese frosting, making them a delightful treat for any occasion.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 16 bars
Course: Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Carrot Cake
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 cups grated fresh carrots
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple, drained
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) Feel free to substitute or leave out if catering to nut allergies.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs before mixing in the vegetable oil. Then, fold in the grated carrots and crushed pineapple until well combined.
  4. Slowly add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients, mixing gently until just combined. If you’re including nuts, fold them in now.
  5. Pour the batter into the greased pan, spreading it evenly.
Baking
  1. Bake for 30-35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  2. Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
Frosting
  1. For the cream cheese frosting, beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  2. Gradually blend in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until creamy.
  3. Spread the cool frosting generously over the cooled bars.
  4. Finally, cut into squares and serve.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 200mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18g

Notes

These bars can be served sliced into bite-sized squares or with a dollop of whipped cream. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to a week, or freeze individual squares wrapped for longer storage. Consider adding toasted coconut, shredded coconut, or raisins for variations.

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