Decadent Carrot Cake Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting (Printable)

Moist, spiced carrot cake bars with creamy frosting for easy serving.

# Ingredient List:

→ For the Carrot Cake Bars

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

→ For the Cream Cheese Frosting

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

# 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 until evenly blended.
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 until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
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, smoothing the top with a spatula.
07 - Bake for 28–32 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
08 - Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack before frosting.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until smooth and fluffy.
10 - 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 Tips:

01 -
  • The texture impossibly moist with tender crumb pieces throughout, never dry like some bakery versions
  • That cream cheese frosting is thick enough to stand up to the rich spiced cake underneath
  • Bars travel better than layered cakes and are easier to share at gatherings
02 -
  • Completely cool the bars before frosting or the frosting will melt into a sticky puddle
  • Finely grated carrots distribute better than coarse shreds, which can create wet spots in the cake
  • Room temperature cream cheese and butter blend into silky smooth frosting without lumps
03 -
  • Use the large holes of a box grater instead of a microplane for perfect carrot texture
  • Tap the pan on the counter before baking to release any air bubbles
  • Chill the frosted bars for 30 minutes before slicing for cleaner edges

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