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–+ servings
Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars

Delicious Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars You’ll Love to Bake

Delight in these Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars, a perfect blend of fresh carrots and cream cheese, great for every gathering.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 45 minutes
Servings: 12 bars
Course: Desserts
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Cake
  • 1 cup Light Brown Sugar Can substitute with coconut sugar for a healthier option.
  • 0.5 teaspoon Kosher Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract Use pure vanilla extract for best flavor.
  • 1 cup All-Purpose Flour For a gluten-free option, use almond flour or a gluten-free blend.
  • 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 0.5 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1 large Egg
  • 0.5 cup Unsalted Butter Melted.
  • 1 cup Freshly Grated Carrots Avoid pre-packaged shredded carrots as they can be drier.
For the Cream Cheese Swirl
  • 8 ounces Cream Cheese Softened.
  • 1 large Egg Yolk
  • 0.25 cup Granulated Sugar

Equipment

  • Microwave
  • Mixing Bowl
  • Spatula
  • Baking pan
  • Whisk
  • Electric mixer

Method
 

Step-by-Step Instructions
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8x8-inch baking pan with heavy-duty non-stick aluminum foil.
  2. Melt ½ cup of unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl and allow it to cool slightly.
  3. Whisk together melted butter, 1 egg, 1 cup of light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon of kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract until combined.
  4. Sift in 1 cup of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon of ground nutmeg and stir gently until just combined.
  5. Fold in 1 cup of freshly grated carrots until evenly distributed.
  6. In a separate bowl, beat together 8 ounces of softened cream cheese, 1 egg yolk, and ¼ cup of granulated sugar until smooth.
  7. Pour the carrot batter into the prepared baking pan, dollop the cream cheese mixture on top, and swirl it through the carrot batter.
  8. Bake for 25–30 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.
  9. Allow the bars to cool in the pan for at least 2 hours before slicing.

Nutrition

Serving: 1barCalories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 3gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 150mgPotassium: 120mgFiber: 1gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 500IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 50mgIron: 1mg

Notes

For best results, use freshly grated carrots and do not overmix the batter.

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