If you’re craving a dessert that’s bursting with warm spices, moist texture, and a luscious cream cheese frosting, you will absolutely fall in love with this Carrot Cake Bars Recipe. These bars capture all the comforting flavors of traditional carrot cake but in a wonderfully convenient, portable form that’s perfect for sharing with friends or treating yourself any time of day. The tender crumb, packed with fresh grated carrots and a melody of spices, pairs beautifully with the rich, tangy frosting that crowns each bite. Once you try this Carrot Cake Bars Recipe, it will quickly become a go-to favorite for gatherings, lunchboxes, and those little moments when you just need a sweet pick-me-up.
Ingredients You’ll Need
All the magic of this Carrot Cake Bars Recipe starts with a handful of simple, wholesome ingredients you likely have on hand. Each one plays a crucial role in building that perfect balance of flavor, moisture, and texture that makes these bars truly irresistible.
- All-purpose flour: Provides the sturdy yet tender base for the cake’s crumb.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warm, comforting notes that evoke classic carrot cake flavor.
- Salt: Enhances all the other flavors and balances sweetness.
- Ground nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice: These spices create the signature spiced aroma and depth of taste.
- Unsalted butter: Brings richness and moistness to the batter while keeping control over salt levels.
- Dark brown sugar: Infuses the cake with a deep molasses sweetness and helps retain moisture.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and provide structure.
- Vanilla extract: Offers a smooth, sweet complement to the spices.
- Finely grated carrots: Add natural sweetness, moisture, and that classic carrot cake texture.
- Cream cheese: The hero of the frosting, delivering tangy creaminess.
- Powdered sugar: Sweetens and thickens the frosting with a silky finish.
How to Make Carrot Cake Bars Recipe
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare Your Pan
Start by setting your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prep your 9×9 inch pan by lining it with parchment paper or greasing it lightly. This simple preparation ensures your bars won’t stick and will lift out easily once baked.
Step 2: Whisk Together the Dry Ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, ginger, cloves, and allspice. Whisking these together early on helps evenly distribute the spices throughout your batter, so every bite is perfectly spiced.
Step 3: Mix the Wet Ingredients
Take a large bowl and whisk together the melted butter and dark brown sugar until silky smooth. Then beat in your eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla extract. This creates a luscious, velvety base for your batter.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures and Fold in Carrots
Gradually add your dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined—overmixing can make the bars tough. Gently fold in the finely grated carrots to distribute their sweetness and moisture throughout every square.
Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection
Pour the batter evenly into your prepared pan, spreading it with a spatula for uniform thickness. Slide it into the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes. You’ll know the bars are done when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Let the bars cool completely to set before frosting.
Step 6: Prepare the Cream Cheese Frosting
Beat together the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Then slowly add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Continue beating until your frosting is light, fluffy, and perfectly spreadable.
Step 7: Frost and Slice
Spread the frosting evenly over your cooled carrot cake bars. Allow the frosting to set slightly, then cut into 16 squares. Each bar offers a delightful balance of spice, sweetness, and tang that’s hard to resist.
How to Serve Carrot Cake Bars Recipe
Garnishes
You can elevate these already fantastic bars with a few simple garnishes. Toasted chopped walnuts or pecans add a lovely crunch and complement the warm spices. For a pop of color, try sprinkling a bit of finely grated orange zest atop the frosting—it pairs beautifully with the cinnamon and cream cheese.
Side Dishes
While these bars are a treat all on their own, pairing them with a cup of hot coffee or chai tea brings out their cozy flavors perfectly. A small bowl of vanilla yogurt or a scoop of cinnamon ice cream on the side can turn this bar into a more indulgent dessert experience.
Creative Ways to Present
For a casual get-together, serve the carrot cake bars on a rustic wooden board with nuts and fresh carrot sticks for added crunch and color. If you’re feeling festive, drizzle melted dark chocolate or a caramel sauce over the bars for an extra layer of decadence. Wrapped individually in parchment paper tied with twine, these bars make charming homemade gifts, too.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once frosted, keep your carrot cake bars covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh and moist for up to 4 days, making them perfect for preparing in advance when you want a sweet treat ready to go.
Freezing
If you want to make this Carrot Cake Bars Recipe ahead of time for a later date, these bars freeze beautifully. After frosting, cut them into squares and arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet in the freezer. Once frozen, transfer bars to a sealed freezer bag or container. They keep well for about 3 months.
Reheating
Thaw frozen bars overnight in the refrigerator for best results. You can enjoy them cold or warm them gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to bring back that fresh-from-the-oven softness. Just be mindful not to overheat, or the frosting might soften too much.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of sweetener for this Carrot Cake Bars Recipe?
Absolutely! While dark brown sugar gives a rich molasses flavor, you can substitute with light brown sugar or coconut sugar for a slightly different taste. Just keep in mind the texture may vary slightly if you swap sugars.
What’s the best way to grate carrots for the bars?
Using the small holes on a box grater works perfectly, producing finely grated carrot that blends smoothly into the batter without creating too much moisture or large chunks.
Can I make these bars gluten-free?
Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend that measures cup-for-cup. Look for one that includes xanthan gum for better texture, and keep an eye on baking time as it might vary slightly.
Is it possible to make the frosting dairy-free?
For a dairy-free option, try using a vegan cream cheese and plant-based butter. The texture might be a bit different but will still provide that creamy tang that complements the bars beautifully.
How long does the frosting take to set before cutting?
It’s best to let the frosting firm up in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before slicing. This allows the frosting to stabilize and prevents it from smearing when you cut into the bars.
Final Thoughts
This Carrot Cake Bars Recipe is such a delightful way to enjoy all the classic flavors of carrot cake with less fuss and more versatility. With its tender crumb, warm spices, and luscious cream cheese frosting, it’s sure to become a beloved treat in your home. Give it a try—you’ll be handing out the recipe just as often as you share the bars!
Print
Carrot Cake Bars Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Description
These Carrot Cake Bars are a delightful twist on traditional carrot cake, featuring warm spices and a creamy cream cheese frosting. Perfectly moist and sweet, they offer all the flavors of a classic carrot cake in easy-to-serve bar form, ideal for parties, snacks, or dessert.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
Wet Ingredients
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- 1 1/4 cups dark brown sugar, packed
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cups loosely packed finely grated carrots (about 1–2 large carrots, grated using the small holes of a box grater)
Frosting Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×9 inch baking pan with parchment paper or lightly grease it to prevent sticking.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, salt, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, ground cloves, and ground allspice until well combined.
- Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the melted and slightly cooled butter with the packed dark brown sugar until smooth and combined. Beat in the eggs one at a time followed by the vanilla extract until the mixture is uniform.
- Add dry to wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently until just combined. Avoid overmixing to keep the bars tender. Fold in the finely grated carrots evenly through the batter.
- Bake: Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 to 35 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick near the center; it should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs. Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely in the pan.
- Prepare frosting: In a clean bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese and unsalted butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, then vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Continue beating until the frosting is light and fluffy.
- Frost bars: Once the bars have fully cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the top. Cut into 16 squares and serve.
Notes
- Use fresh carrots and grate finely for best texture.
- Ensure the cream cheese and butter for frosting are softened for a smooth consistency.
- Do not overmix the batter to keep the carrot bars moist and tender.
- For easier removal, lift bars out of the pan using the parchment paper edges.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
