Carrot Cake Bars

Last Updated on March 1, 2021 by Kathryn Donangelo

These Carrot Cake Bars are incredibly moist, perfectly spiced and have a creamy cheesecake filling swirled into each bite! These bars make a delicious dessert for Easter!

These Carrot Cake Bars are a combination of a classic Carrot Cake and cheesecake. Imagine the two desserts combined and transformed into bars- that’s exactly what this recipe is like! Made with a classic Carrot Cake recipe and has a decadent cream cheese filling that is swirled throughout the bars to give these bars an extra special touch. 

If you’re looking for a dessert for Easter, these bars would be perfect! Be sure to also try my Spring Cake Mix Cookies and this Lemon Poppy Seed Yogurt Bread. 

Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts so of course I had to add it to these bars to make these Carrot Cake Bars extra delicious! The cheesecake swirl filling adds richness and a creamy texture. If you love cheesecake you’ll love my Best Ever Cheesecake Bites, Lemon Cheesecake Bars and Dunkaroo Fufetti Cheesecake Bites.

Spring time is the perfect time to make these Carrot Cake Bars because you can enjoy these bars as a dessert, snack or it can be added to a brunch menu. I have always loved a good old fashioned slice of moist carrot cake and this recipe suffices just that. I feel like eating Carrot Cake should happen more than just Easter or Spring time. After all, carrots are a vegetable so you don’t have to feel too guilty about these bars!

There are only a few simple steps to these bars and the cheesecake swirl filling gives these bars just the right amount of sweetness. You won’t even miss the classic cream cheese frosting you get on carrot cake! Since these are cut into bars, they make it extra easy to eat!

INGREDIENTS TO MAKE CARROT CAKE BARS

• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Egg + egg yolk
• Vanilla extract
• All-purpose flour
• Ground cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ginger
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Shredded carrots
• Nuts
• Cream cheese
• Granulated sugar

HOW TO MAKE CARROT CAKE BARS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 8 x 8 or 9 x 9 inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray or line the pan with parchment paper.
   
   
2. In a large bowl, mix together the melted butter and brown sugar until combined. Stir in the egg, egg yolk and vanilla extract.
3. Add in the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, baking powder, salt and nuts (optional). Mix together until completely combined.
   
   
4. Fold in the shredded carrots until the carrots have been incorporated into the batter. Set aside.

HOW TO MAKE CHEESECAKE SWIRL

1. In a medium mixing bowl, use an electric mixer and mix together the cream cheese, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl.

HOW TO ASSEMBLE CARROT CAKE BARS

1. Add half of the carrot cake batter into the prepared baking pan. Evenly spread the batter with a butter knife or spatula.
2. Add half of the cheesecake batter to the carrot cake batter. Drop dollops (about a tablespoon) of the cheesecake batter over the carrot cake batter.
   
   
3. Add the remaining carrot cake mixture to the baking pan and evenly spread the top with a butter knife or a spatula. Add the remaining cheesecake batter to the top and with a toothpick or skewer, swirl the batters together. You can swirl as much or as little as you prefer!
   
   
4. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until batter isn’t jiggly and the edges are golden brown. Cool completely and then cut into bars. Enjoy!

LEFTOVERS

Since there is cream cheese in these Carrot Cake Bars, the safest way to store these is in the refrigerator. You can store them in an airtight container or simply place them on a plate and cover them tightly with plastic wrap. The will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days and you can eat them cold, straight out of the fridge! I prefer to eat these bars cold and they will firm up a bit too. 

LOOKING FOR OTHER EASY DESSERTS? TRY THESE EASY RECIPES!

• Strawberry Nice Cream
• Perfect Chocolate Chip Bars
• Funfetti Dunkaroo Dip
• S’mores Cookies
• Easy Butterfinger® Ice Cream
• Glazed Buttermilk Donut Cake
• One Bowl Brownies
• Caramel Apple Toffee Dip

CAN’T GET ENOUGH?

Subscribe and I’ll send all my newest and FREE recipes to your inbox!  You can also keep up with me on Pinterest, Instagram, and  Facebook. If you make this recipe, please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and share a picture on Instagram so I can see and feature you!