If you’re ready to take a classic dessert and give it a fun, crowd-pleasing twist, these Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are just what you need. Moist, tender, and packed with warm spices, grated carrots, and juicy pineapple, each bite is topped with a dreamy layer of tangy-sweet cream cheese frosting. They’re easier to make than a traditional layer cake, but deliver every bit of that familiar flavor you love. Whether you’re serving a group or just treating yourself, these bars are sure to bring a little extra joy to your dessert table.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of these Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting lies in how simple, pantry-friendly ingredients come together to create something truly spectacular. Each ingredient has an important role to play, from building up those soft, spice-forward bars to making that luscious, tangy frosting sing!
- All-purpose flour: Delivers the perfect structure for soft, sturdy bars without being heavy or dry.
- Baking powder and baking soda: Give the bars their irresistible lift and tender crumb.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors and keeps the sweetness in check.
- Ground cinnamon and nutmeg: Bring that signature carrot cake warmth and coziness with every bite.
- Eggs: Bind everything together and add a wonderful richness.
- Vegetable oil: Keeps the bars incredibly moist and soft for days.
- Granulated and brown sugar: The combo offers both sweetness and a subtle hint of molasses for extra depth.
- Vanilla extract: Infuses a lovely aroma and ties all the flavors together.
- Finely grated carrots: Bring natural sweetness, vibrant color, and that moist texture carrot cake is prized for.
- Crushed pineapple, drained: Adds pops of juicy flavor and helps make every bite extra moist and tender.
- Chopped walnuts or pecans (optional): Fold these in if you love a little crunch and nutty contrast.
- Cream cheese: The base for a tangy, silky frosting that perfectly balances the sweetness of the bars.
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness and helps the frosting whip into a fluffy cloud.
- Powdered sugar: Melts smoothly into the frosting for that dreamy, sweet finish.
How to Make Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1: Prep Your Pan & Oven
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking pan, or, for easy removal, line it with parchment paper that hangs over the sides. This not only prevents sticking but also turns slicing and serving into a breeze.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Combining your dry ingredients first ensures that all those cozy spices and leaveners are evenly distributed—so every bar tastes just right.
Step 3: Whisk the Wet Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk your eggs, vegetable oil, both sugars, and vanilla until everything is smoothly blended. This mixture is the backbone of the batter, lending moisture, sweetness, and flavor to every bite.
Step 4: Add Carrots, Pineapple, and Nuts
Fold in the grated carrots, the drained crushed pineapple, and the nuts if you’re using them. The carrots add color and sweetness, while the pineapple brings an incredibly soft, moist texture—don’t skip it!
Step 5: Combine and Spread the Batter
Add your dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, and gently stir until just combined. Take care not to overmix; you want to keep those bars tender and light. Once mixed, spread the batter evenly in your prepared pan.
Step 6: Bake
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with just a few moist crumbs. Once baked, let the bars cool completely in the pan—this is key to ensuring the frosting goes on smoothly, without melting.
Step 7: Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting
While your bars are cooling, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, and keep beating until your frosting is fluffy and light. It should be silky enough to spread but thick enough to hold its shape.
Step 8: Frost and Slice
Once the bars are completely cool, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Cut into squares and get ready for that first glorious, satisfyingly sweet bite of Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting!
How to Serve Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Garnishes
For a simple yet elegant touch, sprinkle a handful of chopped walnuts or pecans over the frosted bars, or dust lightly with cinnamon. You can also add a few curls of orange zest for fresh color and extra pop.
Side Dishes
Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting shine with just a cup of hot coffee or tea, but fresh fruit—like sliced oranges or berries—adds a refreshing contrast to the rich, spiced bars. For a party, try serving them alongside a light fruit salad or lemon sorbet for balance.
Creative Ways to Present
For festive gatherings, cut the bars into bite-sized squares and arrange them on a tiered dessert tray. Or, serve each piece in a parchment cupcake liner with a decorative toothpick for easy grab-and-go convenience at picnics or potlucks.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
To keep your Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting tasting bakery-fresh, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The bars stay moist and delicious for up to four days, making them great for meal prepping desserts or preparing ahead for a crowd.
Freezing
You can absolutely freeze these treats! After frosting, let them chill in the fridge to set, then wrap individual bars or the entire pan tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for up to two months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
Reheating
If you enjoy your bars just slightly warm (honestly, who doesn’t?), pop a square in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to take the chill off and restore a little of that straight-from-the-oven magic—just be gentle with the time so the frosting doesn’t melt.
FAQs
Can I make Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting gluten-free?
Yes! Swap the all-purpose flour for your favorite 1:1 gluten-free baking blend. Just double-check your other ingredients—like baking powder—are certified gluten-free, and you’ll be amazed at how deliciously the bars turn out.
What’s the best way to grate carrots for this recipe?
Use the fine side of a box grater or a food processor attachment for tender, evenly-textured shreds. Avoid pre-shredded carrots, as they tend to be dry and don’t break down well in the bar batter.
Can I skip the pineapple?
While the pineapple provides extra moisture and a subtle sweetness, you can omit it if needed. If you leave it out, consider adding a couple tablespoons of applesauce or extra grated carrot to keep the texture nice and moist.
How do I prevent the frosting from being runny?
Make sure your cream cheese and butter are just at room temperature, not too warm, and add the powdered sugar gradually. If the frosting feels loose, chill it for 10-15 minutes before spreading it over your Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.
Can I add raisins or coconut to the bars?
Absolutely! Stir in up to 1/4 cup of raisins or shredded coconut along with the carrots and pineapple for extra flavor, chew, and texture. This is a great way to make these Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting your own.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re planning a casual get-together or simply want to brighten up your afternoon, Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting promise nostalgic comfort with a modern, fuss-free twist. Give this recipe a try, and you might just find it’s your new go-to dessert. Happy baking!
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Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes plus cooling time
- Yield: 20 bars 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in these irresistible Carrot Cake Bars with a luscious Cream Cheese Frosting. These moist and flavorful bars are packed with grated carrots, pineapple, and nuts, topped with a decadent cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
For the bars:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots
- 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, drained
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
For the frosting:
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking pan.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Prepare batter: In a large bowl, whisk eggs, oil, sugars, and vanilla. Fold in carrots, pineapple, and nuts. Add dry ingredients and mix.
- Bake: Spread batter in the pan and bake for 25–30 minutes. Let cool.
- Make frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla, beat until fluffy.
- Frost and serve: Spread frosting over cooled bars and cut into squares.
Notes
- Enhance flavor with 1/4 cup shredded coconut in the batter.
- Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg
