Description
Delight in these moist and flavorful Cream Cheese Carrot Cake Bars, featuring a spiced carrot batter baked to perfection and topped with a smooth, creamy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for gatherings or a sweet treat anytime.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 2 cups grated carrots
Frosting
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to evenly distribute the leavening and spices.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, beat the melted unsalted butter with granulated sugar until smooth and well-combined, forming a creamy base.
- Add Eggs: Incorporate the eggs one at a time into the butter-sugar mixture, mixing well after each addition to ensure proper emulsification.
- Combine Batter: Stir the grated carrots and dry ingredients into the wet mixture, mixing just until combined to prevent overmixing.
- Prepare for Baking: Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly for uniform baking.
- Bake Bars: Place the dish in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, indicating doneness.
- Cool Bars: Remove the pan from the oven and let the bars cool completely on a wire rack to set before frosting.
- Make Frosting: In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until the mixture is smooth and creamy, perfect for spreading.
- Frost and Serve: Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Cut into squares and serve.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the cream cheese is softened to avoid lumps in the frosting.
- Grate carrots finely for better texture integration.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Let bars cool completely before frosting to prevent melting.
