Decadent Carrot Cake Bars (Printable Version)

Moist carrot bars topped with smooth cream cheese frosting, balanced with warm spices and subtle sweetness.

# Ingredients:

→ Carrot Cake Bars

01 - 125 g all-purpose flour
02 - 1 teaspoon baking powder
03 - 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
04 - 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
05 - 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
06 - 0.25 teaspoon salt
07 - 120 ml vegetable oil
08 - 135 g packed brown sugar
09 - 50 g granulated sugar
10 - 2 large eggs
11 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
12 - 100 g finely grated carrots (about 2 medium)
13 - 60 g chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

14 - 115 g cream cheese, softened
15 - 57 g unsalted butter, softened
16 - 120 g powdered sugar, sifted
17 - 0.5 teaspoon vanilla extract

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 175°C. Grease or line a 20×20 cm baking pan with parchment paper for easy lifting.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until fully blended.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk vegetable oil, brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and homogenous.
04 - Gradually fold the dry mixture into the wet base until just combined for a tender texture. Avoid overmixing.
05 - Gently fold the grated carrots and walnuts or pecans, if using, into the batter until evenly distributed.
06 - Spread batter evenly in the prepared pan. Bake 25–30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre emerges clean. Cool completely in the pan.
07 - In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, mixing until the frosting is fluffy and free of lumps.
08 - Spread frosting over cooled cake bars. Slice into squares or rectangles. Garnish with additional chopped nuts or a dusting of cinnamon if desired.

# Notes:

01 - For a nut-free version, omit nuts or substitute with sunflower seeds.
02 - Adjust frosting texture by reducing powdered sugar or adding a dash of milk for a lighter consistency.