Decadent Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
These Decadent Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are rich, moist, perfectly spiced, and surprisingly simple to make. They come together with pantry staples and deliver classic carrot cake flavor in easy-to-serve bar form—perfect for parties, potlucks, or a weeknight indulgence.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour (plus optional chilling)
- Yield: 16 bars
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- For the Carrot Cake Bars:
- 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground cloves
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger (optional)
- 1 1/2 cups (300g) granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup (180ml) vegetable oil
- 4 large eggs, room temperature
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 cups (300g) finely grated carrots
- 1 cup (110g) chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
- 1/2 cup (75g) raisins (optional)
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 8 oz (226g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 4 cups (480g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat to 350°F (175°C). Grease and flour a 9×13-inch pan or line with parchment paper.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: Whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and optional ginger.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk sugar and oil. Add eggs one at a time, then vanilla.
- Combine: Add wet to dry and stir until just combined. Do not overmix.
- Fold in Carrots and Add-ins: Fold in grated carrots, nuts, and raisins if using.
- Bake: Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake for 30–35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Cool Completely: Cool fully in pan on a wire rack.
- Make Frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar. Add vanilla and salt. Beat until fluffy.
- Frost: Spread frosting over cooled bars evenly.
- Chill (Optional): Chill for 30 minutes for cleaner cuts.
- Slice & Serve: Cut into bars and enjoy!
Notes
Grate carrots fresh for best moisture. Chill bars before slicing for clean edges. Toast nuts for extra flavor. Add orange zest for a citrus twist. Store in fridge up to 4-5 days.