Description
Deliciously moist carrot cake bars topped with creamy cream cheese frosting, perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1¼ cups unsweetened applesauce or oil
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 3 large eggs (room temperature)
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups grated carrots (finely shredded)
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional, preferably pecans)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup crushed pineapple (not drained)
- ½ cup salted butter (softened)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pound powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 10×15 inch jelly roll pan or line with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Add unsweetened applesauce, granulated sugar, and eggs to a large mixing bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Stir in the all-purpose flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon just until combined.
- Add carrots, coconut, nuts, vanilla extract, and pineapple and stir just until evenly combined.
- Transfer batter to the prepared pan, smooth top, and bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
- For the Cream Cheese Frosting, beat the butter and cream cheese in a mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer until nice and fluffy. Add in the vanilla extract and powdered sugar and beat until nice and smooth.
- Spread evenly on top of the cooled cake bars. Decorate, if desired, serve and enjoy!
Notes
- For best results, use fresh, finely grated carrots.
- These bars can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week.
- Can be frozen for up to three months without frosting.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 30g
- Sodium: 250mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 45mg