Decadent Carrot Cake Bars (Printable)

Moist, spiced carrot bars with creamy frosting topping.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Carrot Cake Bars

01 - 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp baking powder
03 - ½ tsp baking soda
04 - ¼ tsp salt
05 - 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
06 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
07 - ¼ tsp ground ginger
08 - ½ cup vegetable oil
09 - ½ cup granulated sugar
10 - ½ cup packed light brown sugar
11 - 2 large eggs
12 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
13 - 2 cups finely grated carrots (about 3 medium)
14 - ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

15 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
16 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
17 - 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, sifted
18 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
19 - Pinch of salt

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth and well combined.
04 - Fold in the grated carrots.
05 - Add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in nuts if using.
06 - Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan. Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
07 - Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
08 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until smooth and fluffy.
09 - Once bars are completely cool, spread the frosting evenly over the top. Lift the bars out of the pan using the parchment paper, cut into 16 squares, and serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The cream cheese frosting is thick enough to hold its shape but still melts beautifully on your tongue
  • The grated carrots keep these bars incredibly moist for days, unlike typical cake that dries out
  • The spice blend hits that perfect autumn comfort note without being overwhelming
02 -
  • Completely cool the bars before frosting or the cream cheese will melt into an unappealing glaze
  • Grating carrots finely is crucial because large shreds create weird textures and prevent even baking
  • Room temperature ingredients mix better, so pull out cream cheese and butter about an hour before starting
03 -
  • Press a paper towel lightly over the freshly grated carrots to remove excess moisture for denser bars
  • Add a tablespoon of orange zest to the frosting for a bright, unexpected flavor twist

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