Description
Classic carrot cake bars blend sweet spices with creamy frosting for an irresistible dessert. Moist cake layers topped with rich cream cheese icing promise a delightful treat you’ll savor with each delectable bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups grated carrots
- 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup (170 grams) melted butter
- 1 ¼ cup (250 grams) brown sugar
Spices and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon optional orange zest
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
Binding and Cream Cheese Topping:
- 2 eggs (1 whole egg + 1 egg yolk)
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 egg, room temperature
- ¼ cup (50 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Fire up the oven to 350°F (177°C) and meticulously line a 9 x 9-inch (23 x 23 centimeters) square baking pan with parchment paper, guaranteeing complete side coverage.
- In a spacious mixing vessel, vigorously whisk brown sugar with melted butter until thoroughly amalgamated. Incorporate eggs, vanilla extract, and freshly grated carrots, stirring until perfectly unified.
- Sift the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, baking powder, and salt into a separate receptacle. Gently fold in optional orange zest, then delicately integrate these dry components into the wet mixture, maintaining a light touch to prevent overmixing.
- Craft the cheesecake swirl by thoroughly blending cream cheese, egg, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until achieving a silky, uniform consistency.
- Transfer the carrot cake batter into the prepared pan, creating an even surface. Strategically distribute dollops of cheesecake mixture across the top, then use a butter knife to create elegant swirling patterns through the batter.
- Slide the pan into the preheated oven and bake for approximately 30 minutes, monitoring until a knife inserted centrally emerges predominantly clean.
- Allow the bars to cool completely within the pan. Once temperature normalizes, leverage the parchment paper edges to extract the dessert, slice into precise squares, and present for enjoyment.
Notes
- Swap regular flour with whole wheat for a heartier, more nutritious twist on this classic dessert.
- Grate carrots finely to ensure even distribution and a smoother texture throughout the bars.
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans for extra crunch and a nutty flavor enhancement.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting to achieve clean, precise slices and prevent crumbling.
- Optional cream cheese frosting can elevate the dessert’s richness and add a decadent finishing touch.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 265 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 180 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg