Decadent Carrot Cake Bars (Print Version)

Moist spiced carrot cake topped with creamy frosting

# What You'll Need:

→ 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
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

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9-inch baking pan with parchment paper, allowing overhang on sides for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger until well blended.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk vegetable oil, granulated sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until smooth and fully combined.
04 - Gently fold grated carrots into the wet mixture until evenly distributed.
05 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in nuts if using.
06 - Spread batter evenly into prepared pan. Bake for 28 to 32 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
07 - Let cool completely in pan on wire rack before frosting.
08 - Beat cream cheese and butter together until creamy. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt; beat until smooth and fluffy.
09 - Spread frosting evenly over completely cooled bars. Lift from pan using parchment paper, cut into 16 squares, and serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The texture is impossibly moist without any complicated techniques or unusual ingredients
  • You get all the spiced carrot cake comfort in a portable, shareable format
  • The cream cheese frosting to cake ratio is absolute perfection in every bite
02 -
  • Wait until the bars are completely cool before frosting or it will melt right off
  • Finely grated carrots give you better texture than larger shreds
  • Room temperature ingredients prevent lumps in your frosting
03 -
  • Grate your carrots by hand using the smallest holes on your box grater
  • Bring all ingredients to room temperature before you start mixing

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