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
Scale
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