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Close-up of carrot cake bars with cream cheese frosting, sprinkled with nuts on a plate.

Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

This guide provides a foolproof method for making carrot cake bars with cream cheese frosting, emphasizing the perfect balance of applesauce and pineapple for moist results. Mastering this recipe for carrot cake bars with cream cheese frosting is easier than you think!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36 bars
Calories 221 kcal

Equipment

  • Oven
  • 10x15-inch jelly roll pan
  • Airtight container

Ingredients
  

Carrot Cake Bars

  • 1.25 cups unsweetened applesauce (or oil, this is what my Nana used)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1.5 tsp baking powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 cups grated carrots
  • 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple (not drained! {use the pineapple in JUICE not syrup})

Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 0.5 c butter (softened)
  • 8 oz cream cheese (softened)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 lb powdered sugar

Instructions
 

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Combine #1 ingredients. Add #2 ingredients. Stir in #3 ingredients.
  • Pour into a lightly greased or parchment lined 10x15-inch jelly roll pan.
  • Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely!
  • Beat the butter and cream cheese until nice and fluffy. Creaming the butter and cream cheese together is crucial for a light and fluffy frosting. This process incorporates air, creating a delightful texture. Simply mixing the ingredients will result in a dense, less appealing frosting.
  • Spread on top of the cooled cake bars and serve.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3 days.

Notes

For a seasonal variation that I enjoy, consider a fall twist by adding a teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the batter for Pumpkin Spice Carrot Cake Bars. It adds a comforting warmth that complements the carrots and spices beautifully, and is an easy way to spice up carrot cake bars.
I've also doubled this recipe for a 9x13 inch pan when serving a crowd. I always find that it’s necessary to adjust the baking time. Starting with an additional 5-10 minutes is typically sufficient.

Nutrition

Calories: 221kcalCarbohydrates: 34gProtein: 2gFat: 8gSodium: 122mgFiber: 1gSugar: 27g
Keyword applesauce, baking, carrot cake, cream cheese frosting, pineapple
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