Description
Indulgent cream cheese carrot cake bars blend classic comfort with modern dessert elegance. Moist spiced layers and rich frosting create a delightful treat you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup finely shredded carrots
- 2 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
Baking and Spices:
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Sugars and Flavor Enhancers:
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar, packed
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Swirl Ingredients:
- 6 ounces (170 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Optional Add-ins:
- ¼ cup crushed pineapple, drained
- ¼ cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Instructions
- Prepare the oven environment by warming it to 350F (175C) and creating a non-stick surface in an 8-inch or 9-inch pan using parchment paper.
- Craft a dry ingredient blend by meticulously whisking flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium mixing vessel.
- Create a liquid foundation by vigorously combining eggs, sugars, oil, and vanilla until achieving a uniform, glossy consistency.
- Incorporate textural elements by gently folding shredded carrots, optional pineapple, and chopped nuts into the liquid mixture.
- Merge dry and wet ingredients, stirring minimally to prevent over-mixing and maintain the cake’s delicate structure.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan, ensuring an even distribution across the surface.
- Develop a luxurious cream cheese topping by blending cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until achieving a silky, uniform texture.
- Artfully distribute cream cheese mixture over the carrot cake base, using a knife to create elegant swirling patterns.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, monitoring until a inserted toothpick emerges cleanly.
- Allow the bars to cool completely within the pan before slicing into precise, decadent portions.
Notes
- Check ingredient temperatures to ensure smooth mixing and even baking, especially for cream cheese and eggs, which blend better at room temperature.
- Adjust sweetness by reducing sugar or using alternative sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a more balanced flavor profile.
- Customize texture by finely or coarsely grating carrots – finer shreds create a smoother cake, while coarser shreds add more texture and moisture.
- Enhance nutritional value by substituting some all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour or adding rolled oats for increased fiber and nutrients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 10 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg