Print

Carrot Oat Bars

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 26 minutes
Total Time 56 minutes
Servings 20 bars

Ingredients

For the bars

  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 stick butter, melted
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon EACH: ginger, clove, and allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup AP flour
  • 1 cup carrot, grated this was roughly 4 medium carrots
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats
  • 2 tablespoons honey

For the cream cheese frosting [optional]

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cream cheese
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • milk, as needed

Instructions

Prepare the pan and preheat the oven.

  1. Cover the bottom of a 9x9 cake pan in tin foil and grease the tin foil.

  2. Preheat the oven to 350F.

Prepare the batter

  1. Whisk together the brown sugar, vanilla extract, and melted butter in a large bowl. Add the egg in and whisk thoroughly.

  2. In a smaller bowl, sift together the spices, salt, and flour.

  3. Grate the carrot finely and whisk it into the wet ingredients.

  4. In a measuring cup, stir the oats with the honey and add them to the wet ingredients, again stirring well.

  5. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and stir until combined.

  6. Pour batter into the prepared pan and bake for 26 minutes.

Make the frosting [optional]

  1. Using a pastry blender or fork, combine the sugar, cream cheese, and butter until completely blended. Be sure to incorporate the butter entirely. Add milk as needed, in teaspoons, to get the desired consistency.

  2. When the bars are cooled, spread the frosting over the entirety in and even layer, or alternatively, pipe out in a decorative fashion.

Recipe Notes

In the refrigerator: This will keep with the frosting in a sealed container for one week.

In the freezer: These will keep for 6 months, well wrapped, without frosting.