Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting offer all the deliciousness of traditional carrot cake but in a convenient and snackable bar form. With moist, spiced cake layers and a luscious cream cheese frosting, these bars are a treat for the taste buds. This recipe is easy to make and perfect for satisfying your dessert cravings. Read on to discover how to prepare these delightful bars.

Ingredients

For the Cake:

• 1¼ cups unsweetened applesauce or oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• ½ 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 pineapple in juice, not syrup)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• ½ cup butter, softened
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 lb powdered sugar

Instructions

Step 1: Preparing the Cake

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the following ingredients:

• 1¼ cups unsweetened applesauce or oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs

1. Stir in the following dry ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp cinnamon

1. Add the following to the mixture:

• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup crushed pineapple (use the pineapple in juice, not syrup)

1. Mix all the cake ingredients until well combined.
2. Pour the cake batter into a lightly greased or parchment-lined 10×15-inch jelly roll pan.
3. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
4. Allow the cake bars to cool completely.

Step 2: Making the Cream Cheese Frosting

9. In a separate bowl, beat the following ingredients until the mixture is nice and fluffy:

• ½ cup butter, softened
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened

9. Add in the vanilla and powdered sugar, and beat until the frosting is smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Frosting and Serving

11. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly on top of the cooled cake bars.
12. Slice and serve these delightful Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting.
13. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Enjoy the incredible taste of carrot cake in a convenient bar form with these delicious treats!