Description
These Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars combine the moist, warmly spiced flavors of classic carrot cake with a luscious cream cheese swirl. Baked in a single pan, they offer an easy yet indulgent dessert perfect for gatherings or an afternoon treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 to 3 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- ½ teaspoon ground cloves
Wet Ingredients and Mix-ins
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup grated carrots, loosely packed (preferably freshly grated)
Cream Cheese Swirl
- 4 ounces brick-style cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 1 egg yolk
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8×8-inch pan with heavy-duty non-stick aluminum foil for easy cleanup and spray it with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Melt Butter: In a large microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter by heating on high for about 1 minute. Allow it to cool slightly to prevent scrambling the egg in the next step.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: To the cooled melted butter, add the egg, light brown sugar, all the spices (cinnamon, ginger, allspice, cloves), and vanilla extract. Whisk these ingredients thoroughly until combined.
- Add Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour and kosher salt to the wet mixture. Stir gently until the flour is just incorporated to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the texture.
- Fold in Carrots: Gently fold the grated carrots into the batter. Using freshly grated carrots will ensure the best texture and moisture.
- Pour Batter into Pan: Pour the carrot batter into the prepared pan and smooth the surface evenly with a spatula.
- Prepare Cream Cheese Swirl: In a medium bowl, beat the softened cream cheese, egg yolk, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer on high speed until the mixture becomes smooth and fluffy, about 4 minutes.
- Swirl Cream Cheese Mixture: Spoon dollops of the cream cheese mixture over the carrot cake batter. Using a butter knife or spatula, lightly swirl the cream cheese into the batter. Avoid mixing too deeply to maintain visible swirls.
- Bake: Place the pan in the oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes. Test doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center— it should come out clean when ready.
- Cool and Serve: Allow the bars to cool uncovered in the pan at room temperature for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to let them set fully before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Use freshly grated carrots instead of pre-shredded to avoid excess moisture and clumping.
- Room temperature of cream cheese ensures a smooth, lump-free swirl.
- Be careful not to overmix the batter once flour is added to maintain a tender crumb.
- The cream cheese swirl adds a rich contrast but avoid fully blending it in to keep pretty marbling.
- Allow bars to cool completely to firm up and to make slicing easier.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
