Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars (Printable)

Moist carrot cake swirled with creamy cheesecake for an irresistible spring dessert. Easy to make and perfect for sharing.

# Ingredient List:

→ Carrot Cake Layer

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 1/2 tsp baking powder
03 - 1/4 tsp baking soda
04 - 1/4 tsp salt
05 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
06 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
07 - 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
08 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
09 - 2 large eggs
10 - 1/2 cup vegetable oil
11 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
12 - 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots
13 - 1/2 cup crushed pineapple, well-drained
14 - 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

→ Cream Cheese Layer

15 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
16 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
17 - 1 large egg
18 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving overhang for easy removal.
02 - In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk brown sugar, granulated sugar, eggs, oil, and vanilla until smooth and incorporated.
04 - Fold grated carrots, drained pineapple, and nuts into the wet mixture until evenly distributed.
05 - Add dry ingredients to wet mixture; stir until just combined. Set aside.
06 - In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar, egg, and vanilla; blend until creamy and lump-free.
07 - Spread 2/3 of carrot cake batter into prepared pan. Pour cream cheese mixture evenly over top. Dollop remaining carrot batter over cream cheese layer.
08 - Use a knife or skewer to gently swirl the batters together for a marbled effect. Do not overmix.
09 - Bake for 38-42 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean.
10 - Cool completely in pan. Refrigerate for 2 hours for easier slicing. Cut into 16 bars and serve.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The texture is something magical, with the tender carrot cake meeting that silky cream cheese layer in every single bite.
  • These bars somehow taste even better the next day, making them perfect for making ahead of time.
  • The swirling technique makes them look fancy enough for company, but they come together in under an hour.
02 -
  • Chilling the bars for at least two hours before cutting is not optional if you want clean, beautiful slices.
  • The toothpick test is tricky with these bars because of the cream cheese layer, so look for set edges rather than a completely clean pick.
  • Room temperature cream cheese is absolutely essential for achieving that smooth, lump-free swirl layer.
03 -
  • Grate your carrots by hand rather than using food processor shreds, which can be too coarse and create a gritty texture.
  • Let the bars cool completely in the pan before attempting to lift them out using the parchment paper overhang.

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