Carrot Cake Bliss Bars

Experience the perfect fusion of cake and brownie textures with our Carrot Cake Bliss Bars. These vegetarian treats are rich in flavor, featuring a warm, caramelly essence from browned butter and a creamy frosting that elevates every bite. Ideal for those following a vegetarian diet, these bars are also gluten, dairy, and egg-free, making them a versatile dessert option.

With a flavor profile that combines sweet carrots and aromatic spices, these bars are perfect for snacks, dessert platters, or potlucks. Packed with nutrients from carrots, they offer a wholesome treat without compromising on taste.

Easily accessible through EasyChef Pro, you can add this recipe to your digital cookbook and enjoy the convenience of a shopping list feature that ensures the lowest cost per serving.

Get ready to impress your friends and family with these Carrot Cake Bliss Bars—your next favorite dessert awaits!

Recipe Collection: Dessert

Serving Size: 16

Cooking Time: 55 minutes

Overview

These carrot cake bars are a delightful blend of cake and brownie textures, offering a rich, caramelly flavor from browned butter. Topped with a creamy frosting, they make for a perfect dessert or snack.

Diet Type

Vegetarian

Allergies

Dairy, Eggs, Gluten

Cuisine

American

Ingredients

• 0.75 Cup (c) unsalted butter, melted
• 0.67 Cup (c) brown sugar, divided
• 1 Large egg, at room temperature
• 1 Large egg yolk, at room temperature
• 1.5 Teaspoons (tsp) vanilla extract
• 0.67 Cup (c) all-purpose flour
• 1 Teaspoon (tsp) baking soda
• 1 Teaspoon (tsp) ground cinnamon
• 1 Teaspoon (tsp) ground ginger
• 0.5 Teaspoon (tsp) salt
• 0.25 Teaspoon (tsp) ground nutmeg
• 0.25 Teaspoon (tsp) ground allspice
• 1.5 Cups (c) carrot, grated

Frosting

• 8 Ounces (oz) cream cheese
• 1.5 Teaspoons (tsp) vanilla extract
• 1 Pinch salt
• 2 Cups (c) confectioners' sugar

Steps

1. Melt the butter in a light-colored saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until the butter browns and smells nutty, about 5 minutes. Measure out 1/4 cup of the browned butter and set aside for the frosting. Pour the remaining butter into a large mixing bowl and let it cool for 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8-inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on all sides.
3. In the mixing bowl with the brown butter, add the brown sugar and whisk until combined. Whisk in the egg, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth. Add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, salt, nutmeg, and allspice, mixing until just combined. Fold in the grated carrots. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread evenly.
4. Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes, until the bars spring back when lightly touched in the center.
5. Remove the bars from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Use the parchment overhang to lift the bars out of the pan and transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
6. For the frosting, beat the cream cheese in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the reserved 1/4 cup brown butter and beat on medium-high speed until combined. Beat in the vanilla, salt, and 1 cup of confectioners' sugar until smooth. Add the remaining cup of sugar and beat until fully incorporated. Continue beating on medium speed until the frosting is completely smooth, about 2 to 3 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
7. Spread the frosting over the cooled bars as desired. For best results, refrigerate the frosted bars for about 1 hour before slicing into 16 bars.

Cook's Note: You can add toasted walnuts or pecans and/or raisins to these bars if desired. Fold any additions into the batter when you fold in the carrots.