Dreamy Carrot Coconut Delight Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
These carrot coconut delight bars combine unexpected textures and flavors that dance across your taste buds with surprising elegance.
Sweet tropical notes mingle with earthy vegetable undertones in a dessert that defies traditional expectations.
Warm spices weave through each tender bite, creating a complex sensory experience.
Delicate shredded coconut adds unexpected crunch and rich dimension to the classic treat.
cream cheese frosting provides a luxurious, silky counterpoint that melts deliciously on your palate.
Baking these bars fills your kitchen with an irresistible aroma that promises pure comfort.
The harmonious blend of ingredients promises a dessert that will become an instant favorite among anyone who tastes it.
Why You’ll Love Carrot Coconut Delight Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
What Goes in Carrot Coconut Delight Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Primary Ingredients:
Flour Group: – All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and base for the cake bars, key for achieving the right texture.
Sugar Group: – Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Essential for sweetness and helping to caramelize the bars during baking.
Eggs: Binding agent that helps hold the ingredients together and adds moisture to the recipe.
Moisture and Flavor Ingredients:
Fruit and Vegetable Group: – Carrots, Crushed Pineapple, Applesauce: Adds natural sweetness, moisture, and additional depth of flavor to the bars.
Coconut and Nut Group: – Shredded Coconut, Chopped Nuts: Provides texture, crunch, and complementary tropical flavor to the cake bars.
Spice and Seasoning Group:
Spice Group: – Ground Cinnamon, Salt: Enhances overall flavor profile and balances the sweetness of the bars.
Leavening Agents: – Baking Soda, Baking Powder: Helps the bars rise and creates a light, tender texture.
Frosting Ingredients:
Cream Cheese Frosting Group: – Cream Cheese, Butter, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla Extract: Creates a rich, creamy topping that complements the spiced cake bars.
Baking Carrot Coconut Delight Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
Step 1: Warm Up the Oven and Get the Pan Ready
Crank the oven to 350°F (175°C). Grab a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan and give it a light spray of cooking oil or line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup.
Step 2: Whip Up the Wet Ingredients
Grab a spacious mixing bowl and toss in:Blend these ingredients until they’re perfectly combined and looking smooth.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together:Make sure all the dry ingredients are well mixed and free of lumps.
Step 4: Marry the Wet and Dry Mixtures
Slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined – don’t overmix! The batter should look uniform but not beaten to death.
Step 5: Fold in the Good Stuff
Carefully mix in:Distribute these goodies evenly throughout the batter.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Slide it into the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick – it should come out clean. Let the bars cool completely in the pan.
Step 7: Craft the Creamy Frosting
In a mixing bowl, cream together:Beat until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and powdered sugar. Continue beating until the frosting is smooth and dreamy.
Step 8: Frost and Serve
Spread the luscious cream cheese frosting evenly over the cooled bars. Slice into squares and get ready to wow your taste buds!
Helpful Tips for Carrot Coconut Delight Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
How to Keep Carrot Coconut Delight Bars Fresh
Best Pairings with Carrot Coconut Delight Bars
New Versions of Carrot Coconut Delight Bars to Try
FAQs for Carrot Coconut Delight Bars with Frosting
Yes, you can easily omit the nuts or substitute with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin seeds if you prefer a nut-free version.
When stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, these bars will stay fresh and delicious for up to 5 days.
Absolutely! These bars freeze wonderfully. Wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before serving.
You can use dairy-free cream cheese and margarine alternatives to create a dairy-free version of these delightful bars.
Print
Carrot Coconut Delight Bars With Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 16 1x
Description
Mouthwatering carrot coconut delight bars bring tropical sweetness to classic dessert comfort. Creamy cream cheese frosting and nutty coconut elevate these bars, promising a delectable treat you’ll savor with pure pleasure.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 2 cups flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 2 cups grated carrots
- 3 eggs
- 1¼ cups unsweetened applesauce or oil
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
- 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
Spices and Seasonings:
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Frosting Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 pound (454 grams) powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup crushed pineapple (not drained)
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 350°F and prepare a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing the surface.
- In a spacious mixing bowl, whisk together applesauce, sugar, and eggs until the mixture becomes smooth and homogeneous.
- Separately, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in another bowl, ensuring even distribution of dry ingredients.
- Gently incorporate the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients, stirring carefully to create a uniform batter without overmixing.
- Introduce grated carrots, shredded coconut, chopped nuts, vanilla extract, and crushed pineapple into the batter, folding delicately to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Transfer the batter into the prepared pan, spreading it uniformly to ensure consistent baking.
- Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick that should come out clean when the bars are fully cooked.
- Remove from oven and allow the bars to cool completely within the pan, which helps set the texture.
- Prepare the cream cheese frosting by blending softened butter and cream cheese until light and airy.
- Incorporate vanilla and powdered sugar into the frosting, continuing to beat until achieving a smooth, creamy consistency.
- Once bars are entirely cooled, spread the cream cheese frosting across the surface in an even layer.
- Slice into square portions and serve the delightful carrot coconut bars.
Notes
- Make ahead and store these bars in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor retention.
- Swap nuts with seeds like sunflower or pumpkin for a nut-free version that’s perfect for school lunches or allergy-sensitive gatherings.
- Use room temperature ingredients like eggs and cream cheese to create smoother, more evenly blended batter and frosting.
- Drain crushed pineapple thoroughly to prevent excess moisture that could make the bars soggy and compromise their texture.
- Grate carrots finely for a more delicate crumb and even distribution throughout the cake bars, ensuring consistent moistness in every bite.
- Toast coconut and chopped nuts separately before adding to the batter to enhance their nutty, rich flavors and provide an extra layer of depth.
- Prep Time: 45 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 16
- Calories: 365
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 145 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg
Isabella Rossi
Founder & Culinary Content Creator
Expertise
Recipe Development, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education
Education
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology
Ballymaloe Cookery School
Liam is the voice behind many of Craft Meats’ most flavorful features. With roots in Dublin’s smoky barbecue scene and a culinary degree from the Dublin Institute of Technology, he brings time-tested cooking techniques to life.
His training at Ballymaloe Cookery School sharpened his farm-to-table approach, giving him a deep respect for every ingredient he writes about.
He’s not about overcomplicating the process, just helping you cook meat that’s worth talking about. When he’s not writing or grilling, he’s out foraging or nerding out on regional spice blends to add to his next recipe.