Description
Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are soft, moist, and packed with cozy flavor. Perfect for gatherings, these bars deliver all the classic carrot cake goodness in a simple, sliceable dessert. Topped with smooth cream cheese frosting, they’re quick to make and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Make a batch today!
Ingredients
For the Cake:
1¼ cups unsweetened applesauce or oil
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 cups grated carrots
1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup crushed pineapple (in juice, not drained)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
½ cup butter, softened
8 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 lb powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and lightly grease or line a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan with parchment paper.
- Mix the wet ingredients: In a large bowl, combine applesauce (or oil), sugar, and eggs until well blended.
- Add the dry ingredients: Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until just combined.
- Fold in the mix-ins: Add grated carrots, shredded coconut, chopped nuts (if using), vanilla extract, and crushed pineapple with juice. Mix until everything is evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool completely before frosting.
Frosting:
- In a mixing bowl, beat softened butter and cream cheese until fluffy.
- Add vanilla extract and gradually beat in powdered sugar until the frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Spread the frosting evenly over the cooled carrot cake bars.
Notes
Use pineapple in juice, not syrup, for best texture.
If your pan is too full, bake a few cupcakes with extra batter.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 221 kcal
- Sugar: 27g
- Carbohydrates: 34g
- Protein: 2g