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These carrot cake bars are delicious, perfectly moist and soft – easy dessert for any holiday. Simply the best gluten-free carrot cake treat.
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Carrot Cake Bars – Easy Holiday Dessert
Carrot cake is my favorite cake. I wanted to create a dessert with the same delicious flavor but that’s easy to make.
These carrot cake bars are the ultimate sweet indulgence for any holiday – perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day brunch, Memorial Day, 4th of July and even Thanksgiving. I think it’s such an incredible dessert that should be enjoyed all year long. It’s a great dessert to bring to a potluck, a family gathering or to make for a birthday. This gluten-free carrot cake bars recipe makes about 20 mini cakes.
How To Make Carrot Cake Bars
This gluten-free mini carrot cakes recipe has a few steps but it comes together quickly and easily. The prep time takes about 15 minutes and the recipe doesn’t require any special equipment. All you need is 2 mixing bowls, spatula, baking dish, and parchment paper.
Mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately, and fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix well until there are no dry pockets. The batter will be relatively thick. Add chopped walnuts, raisins, and shredded carrots to the bowl, and mix until everything is well incorporated.
Spread the batter in a baking dish and bake it in a preheated oven. While the cake is baking, make the frosting and frost the cake once cooled.
Tips For Perfect Mini Carrot Cakes
- Line the baking dish with parchment paper so the paper hangs over the sides. This prevents the cake from sticking to the dish and makes it easier to remove.
- Cool the carrot cake before you add the frosting so the frosting doesn’t melt.
- Refrigerate the frosting for 15 minutes so it holds its shape when you frost the sheet cake.
- Chop the raisins and the carrots in small pieces with a knife for best texture.
- For equal size cakes, if you are using a 9 x 13 baking dish, cut the cake horizontally in the middle and then cut each half in the middle again. Cut the cake vertically in 5 even rows. This should yield 20 equal carrot cake bites.
Healthy Carrot Cake Bars Recipe (Gluten-Free, Paleo-Friendly)
Most carrot cakes are loaded with sugar and oil to achieve a sweet and moist cake. This homemade carrot cake bars are not overly sweet and made with healthier ingredients. For Paleo carrot cake bars, you can make paleo-approved frosting with coconut cashew cream cheese frosting instead of regular cream cheese frosting. I also made them gluten-free by using almond and coconut flour. Even though the bars are made with gluten-free ingredients, they taste incredible and the texture of the cakes is amazing.
How To Store Carrot Cake Bars
You can store the carrot cake bars in the refrigerator for about 3-4 days. The bars taste even better after they have been refrigerated and the frosting is cool.
You can also make this sheet pan carrot cake and cream cheese frosting ahead of time and keep it refrigerated until it’s time to serve. Cover with the frosting, cut into squares and top with chopped walnuts.
More Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes
You can never have too many gluten-free dessert recipes! If you love this carrot cake bars recipes, you might also love these:
- Gluten-Free Mini Cakes with Berries – Simply impressive! Perfect mini cakes for 4th of July or any other special occasion!
- Paleo Banana Walnut Brownies – Favorite brownie recipe using ripe bananas
- No Bake Chocolate Bites – perfect afternoon treat!
Carrot Cake Bars (Gluten-Free, Paleo-Friendly)
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Ingredients
Carrot Cake Bars
- 2 cups almond flour
- ⅓ cup coconut flour
- 1 cup coconut sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ cup melted coconut oil
- 5 large eggs, beaten
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 2 cups chopped walnuts, divided
- ½ cup raisins, chopped
Cream Cheese Frosting (see Notes for Paleo version)
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 ½ cups powder sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Carrot Cake Bars
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Line a 9×13 dish with parchment paper so that the paper hangs over the sides. This helps to easily remove them once baked. Set aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients – almond flour, coconut flour, coconut sugar, cinnamon, allspice, salt and baking soda.
- In another bowl, mix together the wet ingredients – melted coconut oil, eggs, vanilla extract. Fold wet ingredients into dry ingredients until everything is well incorporated and there are no dry pockets left. The batter will be thick.
- Fold in carrots, raisins and 1 cup chopped walnuts. Spread the batter evenly in the baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool.
Cream Cheese Frosting (see Notes for Paleo version)
- While the carrot cake bars are baking, make the frosting. Combine the cream cheese and butter in a medium mixing bowl and mix with a mixer for a minute. Add powdered sugar in batches until frosting is smooth and creamy.
- Once cake is cooled, spread cream cheese frosting evenly over the cake. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup chopped walnuts on top and refrigerate for about 1 hour or until frosting is firm.
Could you use 1:1 gf flour instead of almond and coconut flour? Looks yummy!
I haven’t tried it with gluten-free flour yet. I am sure you can, I am just not sure what would the ratio be. Yes, they are so good!
I love the sound of these and they’re sure to be a hit with the whole family!
Mmm, yum! Nice and moist, definitely a carrot cake fan here so I will definitely be making this soon. Easter if not sooner!
Carrot cake is one of my favorites. Turning them into bite-size bars is genius! Delish!
Now these are the carrot cake bars to aim for – fabulous looking, healthy and I am sure absolutely delicious!
Absolutely the easiest and delicious recipe. Thank you so much for sharing. 5 star for sure!!!!!
I LOVE these carrot cake bars! How cute are they? Making these for Easter! Cannot wait to WOW everyone!!!
You have baked this carrot cake bars to perfection Neli. I definitely wish I had one now!
Easter is my favorite time of year simply for all the carrot cake! This looks exceptional; can’t wait to give it a try!