Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These carrot cake bars transform the classic cake into convenient, handheld treats. They’re incredibly moist, perfectly spiced, and topped with silky cream cheese frosting. Perfect for potlucks, afternoon snacks, or whenever you need a comforting dessert that feeds a crowd.

Pure Comfort

There’s something undeniably comforting about the combination of warm spices, sweet carrots, and tangy cream cheese frosting. These bars bring together all the flavors you love about traditional carrot cake in a format that’s easy to share and enjoy.

Ingredients

What You Need

For the Bars:

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
3 large eggs
1½ cups granulated sugar
¾ cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups finely grated carrots
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

For the Frosting:

8 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
3 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Time to Cook

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Cooling Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Steps to Make It

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.
In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla until well combined.
Gradually stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined.
Fold in grated carrots and walnuts if using.
Pour batter into prepared pan and spread evenly.
Bake for 28-32 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
For the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until creamy.
Once bars are completely cool, spread with frosting.

Make It Perfect

Grate carrots yourself rather than using pre-shredded for the best moisture and flavor
Bring cream cheese and butter to room temperature for smooth frosting
Don’t overmix the batter once you add the flour to keep bars tender
Let cool completely before frosting to prevent melting

Mix It Up

Add ½ cup raisins for extra sweetness
Include ½ cup shredded coconut for texture
Try pecans instead of walnuts
Add a teaspoon of orange zest for brightness

Perfect Partners

Fresh coffee or tea
Glass of cold milk
Vanilla ice cream
Fresh berries

Busy Day Hero

Make the bars up to 2 days ahead and store unfrosted in an airtight container. Frost just before serving.

Work Ahead

The bars freeze beautifully for up to 3 months. Wrap well and freeze without frosting. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.

Save Some For Later

Store frosted bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Let come to room temperature before serving.

Everyone’s Happy

These bars are easily adaptable for different dietary needs:

Make nut-free by omitting walnuts
Use gluten-free flour blend for gluten-free version
Reduce sugar in frosting for less sweetness

Good For You Too

Carrots provide vitamin A and fiber
Walnuts add healthy fats and protein
Can be made with whole wheat flour for added nutrition

Easy Clean Up

Line pan with parchment for easy removal
Use one bowl for wet ingredients and one for dry
Measure wet ingredients first, then dry using same measuring cups

Switch It Up

Make into muffins (bake 20-22 minutes)
Turn into a layer cake using two 8-inch pans
Add cream cheese swirl to batter before baking

Simply Perfect

These carrot cake bars strike the perfect balance between casual and special. They’re easy enough for everyday baking but special enough for celebrations.

FAQs

Can I use baby carrots?
Yes, but whole carrots typically have better flavor.
Why did my frosting become runny?
Make sure cream cheese and butter are just softened, not melted.
Can I make these ahead?
Yes, they keep well for several days refrigerated.
Do I need to refrigerate them?
Yes, due to the cream cheese frosting.
Can I double the recipe?
Yes, use two 9×13 pans for best results.
How fine should I grate the carrots?
Use the small holes on a box grater for best texture.
Can I add pineapple?
Yes, but drain very well and reduce carrots slightly.

Conclusion

These carrot cake bars are a delightful twist on the classic dessert, offering all the comforting flavors you love in a convenient, shareable form. Whether you’re an experienced baker or just starting out, this recipe strikes the perfect balance of being approachable yet impressive. The combination of warm spices, fresh carrots, and that irresistible cream cheese frosting makes these bars impossible to resist. From casual family gatherings to special celebrations, these bars are guaranteed to bring smiles to everyone’s faces. Don’t wait for a special occasion – your kitchen is about to smell amazing, and your taste buds will thank you. Time to start baking!