Carrot Cake Bars
Carrot cake bars with cream cheese swirl are one of those recipes that everyone loves! It has all the delicious flavors that we love in carrot cake, but in a bar making it an easy to prep dessert that is ready to bake in minutes.
Carrot Cake Bars
Carrot cake is one of my favorite desserts, but it always seems to take all day to make. Between baking the layers, making the cream cheese frosting, and assembling it you will be working in the kitchen all day. That is why I am so excited to share these easy-to-make carrot cake bars with you! These carrot cake bars are moist, flavorful, and will have everyone begging for more as well as the recipe once your friends and family try them.
If you love easy bar desserts, be sure to try our no-bake eggnog bars, our pumpkin cheesecake bars, and our pink lemonade bars.
What will I need to make carrot cake bars?
You will need the following supplies:
- 8×8 Baking Pan
- Hand or Stand Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
- Spoon/Spatula (to mix ingredients)
How to Make Carrot Cake Bars
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a medium bowl combine the butter and sugars and mix until combined.
- Add the egg and vanilla.
- Next, add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder. Stir to combine.
- Lastly, fold in the shredded carrots and set aside. AND RAISINS NUTS CHOCOLATE CHIPS PINEAPPLE
- In a separate bowl, prepare the cream cheese swirl by beating the cream cheese with a hand or stand mixer until smooth.
- Add the sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla and combine.
- Prepare an 8×8 baking pan and pour half of the carrot cake mix into the pan and smooth the surface.
- Drop dollops of the cream cheese mix onto the carrot cake mix before layering with the remaining carrot cake mix.
- Drop dollops of the remaining cream cheese mix on top and using a knife, swirl the cream cheese and carrot cake mix together.
- Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting
- Enjoy!
Tips Tricks and FAQs
- This recipe uses 2-3 large carrots. I prefer to save time and buy the pre shredded carrots. Either will work great for this recipe.
- If you prefer, you can add a thin layer of cream cheese frosting to the top. If you are adding frosting to the top, be sure you allow the carrot cake bars to completely cool first.
- Not a fan of raisins? You can omit this from the recipe.
- You want to make sure that your cream cheese is softened/ at room temperature prior to making the cream cheese swirl.
- You can mix in pecans or walnuts if you prefer.
How do I store the Carrot Cake Bars?
Store your carrot cake bars in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-5 days.
Can you freeze carrot cake bars?
Yes, these freeze great! You will want to place them in a freezer-safe container, or you can wrap the pan in foil tightly and then in plastic. These will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Carrot Cake Bars
Carrot cake bars with cream cheese swirl are one of those recipes that everyone loves! It has all the delicious flavors that we love in carrot cake, but in a bar making it an easy to prep dessert that is ready to bake in minutes.
Ingredients
- For the Cake:
- ½ cup (1 stick) butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup dark brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- 1 (8-ounce) bag of shredded carrots
- ½ cup crushed pineapple (with juice not syrup)
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- For the Cream Cheese Swirl:
- 4 ounces (1/2 block) of cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a medium bowl combine the butter and sugars and mix until combined.
- Add the egg and vanilla.
- Next, add the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and baking powder. Stir to combine.
- Lastly, fold in the shredded carrots and set aside. AND RAISINS NUTS CHOCOLATE CHIPS PINEAPPLE
- In a separate bowl, prepare the cream cheese swirl by beating the cream cheese with a hand or stand mixer until smooth.
- Add the sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla and combine.
- Prepare an 8x8 baking pan and pour half of the carrot cake mix into the pan and smooth the surface.
- Drop dollops of the cream cheese mix onto the carrot cake mix before layering with the remaining carrot cake mix.
- Drop dollops of the remaining cream cheese mix on top and using a knife, swirl the cream cheese and carrot cake mix together.
- Bake for about 35-40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- Allow the cake to cool completely before cutting
- Enjoy!
Notes
You will need the following supplies:
- 8x8 Baking Pan
- Hand or Stand Mixer
- Mixing Bowls
- Spoon/Spatula (to mix ingredients)
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
9Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 316Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 59mgSodium: 208mgCarbohydrates: 54gFiber: 1gSugar: 40gProtein: 4g
I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!
