Irresistibly Indulgent Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars
A delightful twist on classic carrot cake featuring a rich cream cheese layer, perfect for cozy afternoons or gatherings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.5 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 large egg
- 0.5 cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup freshly grated carrots
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg yolk
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease an 8-inch square baking pan or line it with parchment paper.
- Mix 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg, 0.5 teaspoon baking powder, and 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt in a large bowl and set aside.
- Cream together 0.5 cup unsalted butter and 1 cup light brown sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Incorporate 1 large egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract into the butter mixture and mix until well combined.
- Fold in 1 cup freshly grated carrots until evenly distributed.
- Combine the dry ingredients with the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined.
- Prepare the cream cheese swirl by mixing 4 ounces softened cream cheese, 0.5 cup granulated sugar, and 1 large egg yolk until smooth.
- Layer half of the carrot cake batter in the prepared pan, dollop cream cheese mixture over it, and then top with remaining batter, swirling to create a marbled effect.
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely. Slice into bars and enjoy!
Notes
These bars pair wonderfully with coffee or tea, and they can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bar
- Calories: 240
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
Find it online: https://thestationrecipes.com/carrot-cake-cream-cheese-bars/