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4.50 from 4 votes

Carrot Cake Bars

Carrot Cake Bars are dessert bars loaded with shredded carrots and chopped walnuts with a cheesecake swirl and a crumble topping.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time1 hour
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Carrot Cake Bars
Servings: 9
Calories: 898kcal
Author: Amanda Rettke--iambaker.net

Ingredients

Crumble Topping

  • ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) Challenge butter, cubed
  • ¾ cup (94 g) all-purpose flour
  • cup (42 g) confectioners' sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Bars

  • ½ cup (1 stick / 113 g) Challenge unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 pinch nutmeg
  • cups shredded carrots, approximately 2-3 large carrots
  • ½ cup walnuts, finely chopped

Cheesecake Swirl

  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • ½ cup (62.5 g) confectioners' sugar

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8x8-inch baking pan with non-stick spray and set aside. You can also line the pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick cooking spray.

Crumble Topping

  • To a medium bowl, add the flour, confectioners' sugar, and cinnamon. Whisk together to combine.
  • Add the cubed butter. Using your fingers, sift the flour mixture over the butter and then start breaking down each cube into pea-sized pieces. When done, every ingredient should be well incorporated (with a few chunks). Place in the refrigerator until ready.

Carrot Cake Bars

  • Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. If needed, microwave another 15 seconds to melt the butter completely.
  • In a medium bowl, add the melted butter and sugar. Mix to combine.
  • Stir in the egg and vanilla extract.
  • Add in the flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Stir until completely combined.
  • Fold in the shredded carrots and chopped walnuts. Set aside.

Cheesecake Swirl

  • In a medium bowl, add in the cream cheese and sugar. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth.

Assembly

  • Add about half of the carrot cake batter into the pan and spread it out with an offset spatula.
  • Add the cheesecake batter to the carrot cake batter that is in the pan, spreading it out into an even layer.
  • Add the remaining carrot cake batter on top of the cheesecake batter and spread it out into an even layer.
  • Using a knife or skewer, swirl the batters together.
  • Top with crumble topping.
  • Bake for about 35-40 minutes until the edges are light golden brown. There will be very little jiggle to the center.
  • Cool completely before cutting. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 898kcal