Enjoy the deliciously sweet and spicy taste of carrot cake this holiday season with these Healthier Carrot Cake Bars. Just 30 minutes in the oven is all you need for this tasty dessert!
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About these bars
If you've been around for awhile, you know all about Jojo's Carrot Cake. It's my mom's recipe, and it's the best carrot cake EVER. And these Healthier Carrot Cake Bars are a healthier version!
Instead of sweetening these bars with sugar, this recipe uses a little bit of maple syrup and brown sugar. There's also no oil thanks to some applesauce. Bake to perfection in just under 30 minutes! These bars are also grain free and dairy free.
If you want to spruce up your Healthier Carrot Cake Bars, I've also included instructions for a deliciously sweet cream cheese icing. Just note that the icing, however, is not dairy or grain free.
If your on the hunt for more healthy sweets, also try these Healthy Peanut Butter Truffles, this Low Sugar Pumpkin Bread, or this macro friendly Eclair Refrigerator Cake.
Recipe Ingredients
For the bars:
- Maple Syrup: This is such a great sweetener if you want to use less refined sugar.
- Applesauce: We're using this in place of oil for a healthier swap!
- Nut Milk: You could use regular milk, but keep in mind that the bars will no longer be dairy free.
- Ground Cinnamon and Nutmeg: These spices with carrots are such a delicious combo!
- Carrots: I recommend shredding whole carrots rather than using pre-shredded carrots. Pre-shredded lack in moisture and will mess with the bar's texture.
- Pecans: Feel free to omit these if you don't like them. But I think they add such great flavor and crunch.
- Flour: I used cassava flour, which if you're not avoiding gluten, you can use a one-to-one ratio with all-purpose flour.
For the frosting:
- Cream Cheese: This will be the base of our frosting. Cream cheese is CLASSIC with carrot cake.
- Yogurt: I used Two Good Vanilla Yogurt.
- Powdered Sugar: This will sweeten up our cream cheese and yogurt mixture and give it a fluffy texture.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make This Recipe
1. Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
2. In a mixing bowl, beat together brown sugar, maple syrup, nut milk, applesauce, vanilla extract, and eggs. Your batter is going to be very wet.
3. Using a cheese grater or food processor, shred carrots. I highly advise against using pre-shredded carrots in this recipe. Fold shredded carrots into the batter with a rubber spatula or mixing spoon.
4. Next, add the rest of the dry ingredients. Beat until thoroughly mixed.
7. Pour batter into the pan and sprinkle with pecans.
8. Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. You can also use a fork or a knife in place of the toothpick.
9. While the bars are baking, gather frosting ingredients in a mixing bowl. Then, using a hand mixer, beat everything together. Set aside.
10. Remove bars from the oven when cooked and let cool for 10-15 minutes. Top with icing and serve!
Recipe FAQs
If the carrot cake bars have frosting on them, they will need to be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
I haven't tried to freeze them, but I think you totally could. Wrap bars individually in saran wrap and store in an airtight container.
NO! Fresh grated carrots are essential for these bars. Pre-shredded carrots are too thick and won’t release moisture properly during the baking process.
I definitely recommend using both. It’s a texture thing. By using only one or the other, you won’t achieve the moist fluffy texture that makes these bars so delicious. If you want to avoid the refined sugar, swap the brown sugar for coconut sugar or a Stevia alternative. Don’t forget this recipe is carrot CAKE so it is supposed to be a little sweet 🙂
You could use walnuts, your favorite granola, or a caramel glaze. If you don't want to do icing, you could also use Greek yogurt and add a sprinkle of cinnamon.
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Recipe
Healthier Carrot Cake Bars Recipe
Equipment
- 9x9 square pan
- Hand Mixer
- Cheese grater or food processor
- Mixing bowls
- Wooden spoon or rubber spatula
- parchment paper
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
For the bars
- cooking spray
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup nut milk
- ½ cup applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ tsp salt
- 1 cup carrots, freshly shredded
- ¼ cup pecans, additional for topping
- 1¾ cup cassava flour
For the frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 5.3 oz Two Good vanilla yogurt, one serving
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp butter
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Line a 9x9 pan with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together brown sugar, maple syrup, nut milk, applesauce, vanilla extract, and eggs. Your batter is going to be very wet.
- Using a cheese grater or food processor, shred carrots. I highly advise against using pre-shredded carrots in this recipe.
- Fold shredded carrots into the batter with a rubber spatula or mixing spoon.
- Next, add the rest of the dry ingredients. Beat until thoroughly mixed.
- Pour batter into the pan and sprinkle with pecans.
- Bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. You can also use a fork or a knife in place of the toothpick.
- While the bars are baking, gather frosting ingredients in a mixing bowl. Then, using a hand mixer, beat everything together. Set aside.
- Remove bars from the oven when cooked and let cool for 10-15 minutes. Top with icing and serve!
Nutrition
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you're using MyFitnessPal, search 'A Paige Of Positivity' and find HEALTHIER CARROT CAKE BARS calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved or just say hi!
Michelle McDowell says
Gonna have to try this! My carrot cake is a top requested dessert but this would be a great alternative
Courtney Paige says
These are soooo good! I love them.
Sydney Van Acker says
i make these at least once a month. Healthier does not mean they lack in flavor whatsoever!