Healthy Recipes Dessert Cookies Bars & Brownies Carrot Cake Bars 4.7 (3) 2 Reviews Classic carrot cake flavors abound in these easy bars. They’re rich like brownies, but their cake-like texture helps keep them light. A yogurt and cream cheese–based frosting topped with nutty walnuts completes this crowd-pleasing dessert. By Megan Ginsberg Megan Ginsberg Megan Ginsberg is the Senior Editor for EatingWell. She has a keen eye for grammar, is always looking for new recipes to try and loves the satisfaction that comes from meal planning. Most of her 20-plus-year editing career has been focused on food-related content. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Published on April 9, 2025 Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines Save Rate PRINT Share Close Credit: Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling Prep Time: 15 mins Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Servings: 12 Nutrition Profile: Sesame-Free Soy-Free Vegetarian Gluten-Free Jump to Nutrition Facts Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1¼ cups oat flour ¾ teaspoon baking powder ¾ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¼ teaspoon ground cloves 5 tablespoons unsalted butter ¾ cup packed dark brown sugar 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided 1 cup grated carrot (from 2 medium carrots) 3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature ⅓ cup whole-milk plain strained yogurt (such as Greek-style) 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar 2 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts Directions Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a 9-inch-square baking pan with parchment paper, allowing the parchment to extend over the sides by at least 2 inches. Whisk 1¼ cups oat flour, ¾ teaspoon baking powder, ¾ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon cloves together in a small bowl. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling Place 5 tablespoons butter in a large microwave-safe bowl; microwave on High just until melted, about 30 seconds. Whisk in ¾ cup brown sugar until combined. Add 1 egg, 1 egg yolk and ½ teaspoon vanilla; whisk until combined. Add the flour mixture and whisk just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Fold in 1 cup carrot. Transfer the batter to the prepared baking dish. Bake until golden brown and slightly puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean with a few moist crumbs, 25 to 27 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, about 1 hour. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling Meanwhile, beat 3 ounces cream cheese and ⅓ cup yogurt in a medium bowl with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy, about 30 seconds, scraping down the sides and bottom of the bowl as needed. Add 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar and the remaining ½ teaspoon vanilla; beat until completely smooth, about 30 seconds. Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling Use the parchment paper to remove the cooled bars from the pan. Place the bars on a plate or platter; discard the parchment. Spread the frosting evenly over the bars and top with 2 tablespoons walnuts. Cut into 12 pieces. To make ahead Refrigerate frosting (Step 3) for up to 3 days. Let stand at room temperature for 30 minutes before spreading. Refrigerate finished bars, covered, for up to 1 day. Recipe developed by Marianne Williams EatingWell.com, April 2025 Save Rate Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 194 Calories 10g Fat 22g Carbs 4g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 12 Serving Size 1 bar Calories 194 % Daily Value * Total Carbohydrate 22g 8% Dietary Fiber 1g 4% Total Sugars 13g Added Sugars 12g 24% Protein 4g 8% Total Fat 10g 13% Saturated Fat 5g 26% Cholesterol 67mg 22% Vitamin A 165µg Vitamin C 1mg 1% Vitamin D 0µg Vitamin E 0mg 3% Folate 14µg Vitamin K 2µg Sodium 213mg 9% Calcium 59mg 5% Iron 1mg 5% Magnesium 22mg 5% Potassium 126mg 3% Zinc 1mg 6% Vitamin B12 0µg Omega 3 0g Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate. * Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.) (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs. Additional reporting by Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers, M.S. Carrie Myers is a portfolio entrepreneur with more than 30 years of experience in the health and wellness space. As a writer and editor, Carrie has worked for both consumer and trade print and online publications. She's been quoted in several articles as a health and fitness expert. Carrie is also a certified life and wellness coach and exercise physiologist, and the founder of CarrieMichele Co., a lifestyle company that helps women create lives they love where they can be authentic. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines and Linda Frahm Linda Frahm Linda Frahm has been a copy editor and fact checker working with food and nutrition content for the past 30-plus years for consumer print and online publications. EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines