Carrot Cake Bars with Swirl (Print-Friendly Format)

Moist carrot bars with creamy cheesecake swirl, the perfect treat for any occasion.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Carrot Cake Bars

01 - ½ cup butter, melted
02 - 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
03 - 1 large egg
04 - 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
05 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
06 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
07 - ¼ teaspoon baking powder
08 - ¼ teaspoon salt
09 - 1 cup shredded carrots

→ Cheesecake Swirl

10 - 4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
11 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
12 - 1 large egg yolk
13 - ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Spray an 8x8-inch baking pan with non-stick spray and set aside. Alternatively, line the pan with parchment paper and lightly spray with nonstick baking spray.
02 - Place butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. If needed, microwave another 15 seconds to melt the butter completely.
03 - In a medium bowl, add the melted butter and brown sugar. Mix to combine. Stir in the egg and vanilla extract.
04 - Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt to the wet mixture. Stir until completely combined.
05 - Fold in the shredded carrots and set the batter aside.
06 - In a medium bowl, add cream cheese and sugar. Beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Add the egg yolk and vanilla extract. Beat until smooth and creamy.
07 - Add half the carrot cake batter into the prepared pan and spread it out with an offset spatula. Drop dollops of half the cheesecake batter over the carrot cake batter. Do not swirl yet.
08 - Layer the remaining carrot cake batter on top of the cheesecake batter and around the dollops. Add the remaining cheesecake batter by dropping dollops on top.
09 - Using a knife or skewer, swirl the carrot cake and cheesecake batters together to your desired amount.
10 - Bake for 35-40 minutes until the edges are golden brown and the center has minimal jiggle. Cool completely before cutting.
11 - Store carrot cake bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

# Additional Information:

01 - For best results, use freshly grated carrots instead of pre-packaged shredded carrots as they tend to be drier.

Go Back