Carrot Cake Bars

Your favorite cake in bar form! These Carrot Cake Bars have all the flavors of your favorite dessert like coconut, carrot, nuts and more, but they are so much quicker and easier. Simply combine the batter, bake and top with a homemade cream cheese frosting.

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I LOVE carrot cake, but there’s no way I’ll make a layer cake – it’s too much work! So, I make these bars (or these carrot cake cookies!) instead. They’re soft and tender, just like a regular carrot cake, but made easy. Oh, and of course, they have cream cheese frosting!

This is my Grandma’s recipe and it’s been passed down for years. You know that old recipe in the recipe box that’s full of stains and you know it has to be good? This is that one!

Why This Recipe Works

• These easy cake bars are perfect for potlucks and Easter dessert, especially if you’re hosting a crowd!
• Every bite has the perfect amount of shredded carrots mixed in with a bit of coconut. I love it with nuts, too, but they’re optional, so feel free to leave them out.
• This is a single-layer cake bar you make in a jelly roll pan. If you don’t have one, it’s worth getting one if you like to make bars. I use mine for this recipe and my cherry bars, apple bars, and sugar cookie bars.
• The cake and frosting are made from scratch! They’re both easy to do – you only need one bowl for each and a hand mixer.
• You can make the cake a day in advance and add the frosting before serving to make life easier!

This is the perfect spring dessert – no one can resist one of these carrot bars!

Carrot Cake Bars Ingredients

• Granulated sugar
• Canola oil – Or substitute vegetable oil
• Large eggs
• Baking soda
• Salt
• All-purpose flour – measure it using the spoon and level method! This will ensure you  don’t add too much.
• Grated carrots – I like to use a box grater so the carrots are finely shredded. You could also use the shredding attachment on your food processor, or buy pre-shredded carrots.
• Shredded coconut – We used sweetened.
• Chopped nuts – Chopped pecans or walnuts work great. Or you can leave them out.
• Vanilla extract – Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.

Frosting Ingredients

• Butter – At room temperature.
• Cream cheese – Room temperature so it’s soft and easy to mix.
• Milk – 2%, whole milk, or skim works fine.
• Vanilla extract – Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
• Powdered sugar – Also known as confectioner’s sugar.

Recipe Steps

Prep – Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray a jelly roll pan with nonstick cooking spray and set it aside.

Make the Batter – In a large bowl with a hand mixer, cream the granulated sugar and oil. Beat in the eggs until just combined. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the baking soda, salt and flour. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well to combine.

Mix in the carrots, coconut, nuts (if you’re using them), and the vanilla and then pour the cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Bake the bars for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool the bars completely before frosting.

Frosting – While the bars cool, make the frosting. With a hand mixer and bowl, cream the butter and cream cheese. Add one tablespoon of milk, all of the vanilla extract and mix to combine.

Gradually add the powdered sugar while mixing. If needed, add another tablespoon of milk if your frosting is too thick.

Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled bars. Slice and serve!

What kind of nuts are in these bars?

Chopped walnuts or pecans are often added to carrot cake. I’ve included nuts as an option for this recipe, so pick your favorite! Or, you can omit them.

Does carrot cake have raisins?

Some recipes do! For this recipe, I leave them out but you can add them. Either omit the nuts and use raisins instead or do half and half.

How long do carrot cake bars keep?

We recommend storing these bars in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese frosting. They will keep for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

Can you freeze carrot cake Bars?

Yes, you can freeze the cake. Allow the cake to cool completely, and then tightly wrap the pan in plastic wrap. Freeze the unfrosted bars for up to a month. Thaw them at room temperature, and then add the icing.

The best carrot cake is an easy one, and this one is just that! I hope you make a batch of these yummy bars soon. You don’t have to wait for spring or Easter – they’re great all year round. Enjoy!

More Dessert Recipes

• Berry Cheesecake Bars
• Vanilla Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Bars
• S’mores Bars
• Banana Nut Bars with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting 

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!

 

4.50 from 4 votes

Carrot Cake Bars

Soft, delicious Carrot Cake Bars with cream cheese are an easy dessert.

Prep:10 minutes mins

Cook:25 minutes mins

Total:35 minutes mins

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Ingredients

• ▢ 2 cups granulated sugar
• ▢ 1 ½ cups canola oil
• ▢ 4 eggs
• ▢ 2 teaspoon soda
• ▢ 2 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 2 cups flour
• ▢ 2 cups grated carrots
• ▢ 1 ½ cups shredded coconut
• ▢ 1 cup chopped nuts optional
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting

• ▢ ⅓ cup butter softened
• ▢ 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• ▢ 1-2 Tablespoons milk
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢ 3 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a jelly roll pan (10×15 inches) with nonstick spray and set aside.
• In a mixing bowl, cream sugar and oil. Beat in eggs until just combined.
• Combine the soda, salt and flour; add to the creamed mixture and mix well.
• Add in grated carrots, coconut, nuts (optional) and vanilla extract and mix until combined.
• Pour into a greased 15 x 10 x 1 inch baking pan.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes or until the bars test done. Cool completely
• For the frosting cream butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl. Add in 1 Tablespoon milk and vanilla extract. Gradually add powdered sugar. Beat well. Add remaining 1 Tablespoon of milk if needed until you get your desired consistency.
• Spread frosting over cooled bars.

Tips

How Long Do Carrot Cake Bars Keep?

With the frosting, they will keep in an airtight container for two days at room temperature or you can store them in the refrigerator for a few days longer.

Can You Freeze Carrot Cake Bars?

Yes, you can freeze the bars. Allow the cake to cool completely, and then tightly wrap the pan in plastic wrap. Freeze the unfrosted bars for up to a month. Thaw them at room temperature, and then add the icing.

Do these bars need to be refrigerated?

Yes, we recommend refrigerating these because of the cream cheese in the frosting.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 499kcal (25%), Carbohydrates: 53g (18%), Protein: 4g (8%), Fat: 31g (48%), Saturated Fat: 8g (50%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g, Monounsaturated Fat: 13g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 53mg (18%), Sodium: 336mg (15%), Potassium: 134mg (4%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 42g (47%), Vitamin A: 2435IU (49%), Vitamin C: 1mg (1%), Calcium: 31mg (3%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Julie's Eats & Treats ®

We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box is calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.