Irresistibly Indulgent Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars Recipe
These Irresistibly Indulgent Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars combine moist, spiced carrot cake with a rich, creamy cream cheese swirl. Baked to perfection, they offer a tender texture with warm notes of cinnamon and nutmeg, balanced by the smooth tanginess of the cream cheese topping. Perfect for a crowd-pleasing dessert or an elegant snack, these bars are easy to prepare and impressive to serve.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Carrot Cake Base
- 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
Cream Cheese Swirl
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 large egg yolk
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch baking pan with heavy-duty non-stick aluminum foil and lightly spray the foil with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Melt Butter: Melt 0.5 cup of unsalted butter in a large microwave-safe bowl for about 1 minute. Allow it to cool slightly before proceeding to the next step.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Whisk together the melted butter, 1 large egg, 1 cup light brown sugar, 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until well combined.
- Sift Dry Ingredients: Sift in 1 cup all-purpose flour, 0.5 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 0.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg into the wet mixture. Gently stir until just combined without overmixing.
- Add Carrots: Fold in 1 cup of freshly grated carrots until they are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Mixture: In a separate bowl, beat 4 ounces of softened cream cheese with 1 large egg yolk and 0.5 cup granulated sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Assemble Bars: Pour the carrot cake batter into the prepared baking pan and evenly spread it out. Then, dollop the cream cheese mixture over the top and use a knife or skewer to gently swirl it through the batter creating a marbled effect.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool completely at room temperature for at least 2 hours. Once cooled, lift the bars out of the pan using the foil and slice into 16 squares.
Notes
- Make sure the cream cheese is softened to room temperature for the smoothest swirl.
- Don’t overmix the batter to keep the bars tender and moist.
- You can substitute walnuts or pecans in the batter for added texture, if desired.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- These bars can be served chilled or at room temperature depending on preference.
Keywords: carrot cake bars, cream cheese swirl, dessert bars, baked carrot cake, cinnamon nutmeg dessert, easy dessert recipe
