I love to bake! However, I am a terrible decorator. This is why you will often see me posting cookies or brownies, because you don’t need to make them look pretty. One of my all-time favourite cakes is carrot cake. It’s the sweetness of the carrots mixed with nuts and having it perfectly spiced through that makes me want to bake it time and time again. This is why I have come up with these carrot cake bars. It provides you with the flavour of a carrot cake without the need to decorate. Just pour over the frosting and done!

12 servings / 20 mins prep time / 1 hr total time

Ingredients

Carrot Cake Bar

¾ cup vegetable oil

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 2/3 cups flour

1 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ tsp baking powder

1 cup grated carrot (about 1 large carrot)

½ cup chopped walnuts

Cream cheese frosting

½ cup of cream cheese

1 tsp vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Pre-heat the oven to 350°F and place parchment paper on a 9×9 baking dish.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oil and both sugars until combined and smooth. Add in the eggs and vanilla and whisk until combined.

Add the dry ingredients (flour, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, salt, baking powder) and mix until just combined. Add the grated carrot and walnuts and fold until mixed through.

Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until the top has browned and if you insert a toothpick it comes out clean.

While the cake cools, make the frosting. In a bowl, add the cream cheese and beat with electric mixer for about a minute. Add the vanilla and sugar and beat until smooth and to your desired consistency, about 2 minutes. If it’s too thick add a bit of milk, if it’s too thin add a bit of powdered sugar.

When the cake is completely cooled, frost the cake and cut into 12 bars. Enjoy!