Description
These Carrot Cake Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are moist, flavorful, and easy to make. With fresh carrots, coconut, and a creamy topping, they’re great 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, we like to use pecans)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup crushed pineapple (not drained, use pineapple in juice, not syrup)
- ½ cup salted butter (softened)
- 8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 pound powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a baking dish.
- In a large bowl, combine the applesauce (or oil) and granulated sugar, mixing well.
- Add the eggs and mix until smooth.
- In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
- Fold in the grated carrots, shredded coconut, nuts (if using), and vanilla extract.
- Add the crushed pineapple and mix until evenly distributed.
- Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish and bake for 25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
- While the bars are cooling, prepare the frosting by beating together the softened cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth.
- Spread the cream cheese frosting over the cooled bars and cut into squares.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute half of the butter with applesauce.
These bars can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Feel free to mix in other add-ins like raisins or chocolate chips.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 200mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 36g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 50mg