Carrot Cake Bars

Name: Carrot Cake Bars
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
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; ⅓ cup butter (softened); 8 ounces cream cheese (softened); 1-2 Tablespoons milk; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 3 cups powdered sugar

4.34 from 3 votes

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By: Julie Evink3 Comments

Posted: 04/04/22

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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.

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!

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Carrot Bars with cream cheese frosting stacked three high

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!

Contents show

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.

Products Needed

Creaming together batter with hand mixer

Ingredients to make carrot cake bars in glass bowl

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.

Cream cheese frosting mixed in glass bowl

Pouring cream cheese frosting on top of carrot bars

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.

Carrot cake bars sliced and stacked on top of each other on white plae

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!

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Meet Julie Evink

I'm here to help you win in the kitchen again! Life is Busy, Life is Crazy, but that doesn't mean you can't make your family dinner! Julie's goal is to provide you with easy, family, friendly recipes that use pantry staples. Dinnertime will be stress free again!