These super fun Easter Carrot Cake Bars are so good and easy to make. These individual treats are made with a fun carrot design on top!
I love all kinds of carrot cake, so these amazing delicious carrot cake cars are so yummy and awesome to make especially for a crowd, save all the cake cutting for someone else!
Enter the Carrot Cake Bars, a whimsical twist on a beloved classic, crowned with a lush cream cheese frosting that’s as light as a cloud in a spring sky. These bars are a celebration, a sweet nod to the carrot cake lover in all of us, but with a playful ease that makes them perfect for any occasion or just because.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make these bars gluten-free? Absolutely! Swap out the all-purpose flour for almond flour or another gluten-free flour blend to accommodate those with a medically restrictive diet. Just keep an eye on the texture; you might need a little more or less to get that perfect crumb.
What if I don’t have a food processor for the carrots? No food processor, no problem! A box grater works wonders for turning your fresh carrots into the perfect size for these bars. It’s a bit of a workout, but think of it as pre-dessert exercise!
Can these bars be frozen? Yes, they freeze beautifully! Wrap the bars (without the frosting or carefully with it) in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe container. They’re like a delightful little time capsule of carrot cake joy for your future self.
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake Bars:
- Flour
- Ground cinnamon
- Baking powder
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Ground ginger
- Ground nutmeg
- Butter (softened)
- Sugar
- Brown sugar
- Eggs
- Vanilla extract
- Shredded carrots
For the Icing:
- Cream cheese
- Butter (softened)
- Vanilla extract
- Powdered sugar
- Orange and green food coloring (for that carrot-top flourish!)
Where to Serve
These easy carrot cake bars are perfect for spring picnics, Easter gatherings, or as a delightful surprise in a lunchbox. They’re versatile, travel well, and are sure to bring a smile wherever they go.
Storage
Store your carrot cake bars in an airtight container at room temperature for a day or two, or in the fridge for up to a week. The flavors meld beautifully over time, making each bite a little taste of heaven.
Tips for Making This Recipe with Kids
- Shredding Party: Let the kids help shred the carrots (with supervision) or mix the colored frosting.
- Mixing Magic: Kids love to pour and mix! Let them help combine the wet and dry ingredients, teaching them the wonders of baking chemistry.
- Decoration Station: Set up a little decoration station with the frosting and let them use a piping bag or a spoon to create their own designs on top of the bars.
Why This Recipe Works
The magic of these carrot cake bars lies in their simplicity and the perfect balance of flavors. The moist carrot cake, rich with spices and tender carrots, pairs beautifully with the tangy cream cheese frosting, creating a symphony of taste that’s hard to resist. The recipe is a canvas for creativity, allowing bakers to adjust spices, add nuts or raisins, or experiment with frosting designs.
By converting the traditional layer cake into bars, this recipe becomes accessible for bakers of all levels, including little helpers in the kitchen.
The process is straightforward, with just a few bowls needed, and the result is a batch of bars that feel both special and wonderfully familiar. It’s a recipe that invites personal touches, making it not just a dessert, but a shared experience—a chance to create and enjoy together.
In the end, these carrot cake bars are more than just a treat; they’re a testament to the joy of baking and the enduring appeal of carrot cake, transformed into a form that’s as delightful to make as it is to eat.
Whether for a special occasion or a sweet everyday moment, they’re a reminder that sometimes, the best things come in small, deliciously spiced, and frosted packages.
Here are some more amazing Easter recipes to try:
Easter Carrot Cake Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting
These amazing carrot cake bars are make with a fun cream cheese frosting and a great to serve for Easter dessert!
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups flour
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ½ cup sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- For the icing:
- 8 ounces cream cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 cups powdered sugar
- Orange and green food coloring
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper. Spray with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, beat together the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth.
- Add half the dry ingredients and beat until mixed, then add the remaining dry ingredients and beat until smooth.
- Fold in the shredded carrots.
- Spread the batter in the prepared baking pan and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean.
- Allow the cake bars to cool completely, then prepare the icing by beating together the cream cheese, butter, and vanilla. Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time, beating between each addition.
- Separate a small amount of the icing into two separate bowls. Add the orange food coloring to one bowl and the green food coloring to the other bowl. Stir until the coloring is mixed into the icing, then transfer each color to a piping bag.
- Remove the cake bars from the pan by pulling the edges of the parchment paper up. Spread the remaining icing over the top of the cake bars and cut the bars into 12 pieces.
- Decorate the top of each cake bar with a carrot using the orange and green icing.
Nutrition Information
Yield
16Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 345Total Fat 15gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 72mgSodium 375mgCarbohydrates 51gFiber 1gSugar 40gProtein 4g
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Hi! I’m Nellie. I am an entrepreneur, a busy mama of 3 and a wife to my high school sweetheart. I have been sharing content for over 12 years about how to cook easy recipes, workout tips and free printables that make life a little bit easier. I have been featured in places like Yahoo, Buzzfeed, What To Expect, Mediavine, Niche Pursuits, HuffPost, BabyCenter, Mom 2.0, Mommy Nearest, Parade, Care.com, and more!
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