Description
Creamy carrot cake bars blend spices and sweetness in a delightful dessert from Southern United States. Rich cream cheese frosting completes this classic treat. Bakers will savor each moist, flavorful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 ½ cups grated carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
- 2 large eggs
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup vegetable oil (or melted coconut oil)
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- ¼ cup raisins (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Line an 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, ensuring complete coverage for effortless removal.
- Dry Ingredients: Meticulously sift flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a mixing bowl, creating a unified dry mixture.
- Wet Mixture: Vigorously whisk eggs and sugars until the blend transforms into a light, airy emulsion, developing a pale, creamy consistency.
- Liquid Integration: Seamlessly mix vegetable oil and vanilla extract into the sugar mixture, ensuring thorough incorporation.
- Batter Formation: Delicately fold dry ingredients into wet components, using minimal strokes to maintain a tender texture, then gently fold in carrots, walnuts, and raisins.
- Baking Process: Carefully pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing the surface evenly, then bake in a preheated 350F (175C) oven for 25-30 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
- Cooling Stage: Allow cake to cool completely in the pan, enabling the internal structure to set and stabilize.
- Frosting Creation: Whip cream cheese and butter until silky smooth, gradually incorporating powdered sugar and vanilla extract to develop a luxurious frosting.
- Finishing Touch: Once cooled, generously spread cream cheese frosting across the cake’s surface, creating elegant swirls and peaks, then slice into precise squares and serve.
Notes
- Prevent Overmixing: Fold ingredients gently to maintain a tender, light texture and avoid developing tough, dense bars.
- Moisture Management: Squeeze excess liquid from grated carrots to prevent soggy bars and ensure optimal cake consistency.
- Temperature Precision: Let ingredients like eggs and cream cheese reach room temperature for smoother blending and better integration.
- Customization Flexibility: Swap walnuts with pecans or sunflower seeds for nut-free options, or include dried cranberries for added tartness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 230
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg