Description
Carrot Cake Bars are the perfect dessert for carrot cake lovers! These moist, spiced bars feature a creamy cheesecake swirl, offering a delicious twist on the traditional carrot cake. Ideal for holidays like Easter or any time you're craving a comforting dessert, these easy-to-make bars are a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake Bars:
- ½ cup butter, melted
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded carrots
For the Cheesecake Swirl:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease or line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, mix melted butter with brown sugar. Stir in egg and vanilla extract.
- Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Fold in shredded carrots.
- In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar until smooth. Add egg yolk and vanilla extract, mixing until creamy.
- Spread half of the carrot cake batter into the prepared pan. Dollop cheesecake mixture on top and cover with the remaining carrot cake batter.
- Use a skewer or knife to swirl the cheesecake into the carrot batter.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool before cutting into bars.
Notes
- Add-ins: Consider adding walnuts, pecans, raisins, or shredded coconut for extra texture and flavor.
- Frosting Option: If you like, you can top the bars with cream cheese frosting once they’ve cooled.
- Gluten-Free Version: Replace all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend for a gluten-free treat.
- Prep Time: 20minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
