By Becky Hardin
Published Mar 6, 2018
These Gluten Free Carrot Cake Bars are so moist and delicious, thanks to our secret ingredient. You’ll never believe how simple and delicious this moist carrot cake recipe is! Try not to eat all the perfect carrot cake frosting before piling it on and serving it to your Easter guests. Best carrot Cake bars ever!
Gluten Free Carrot Cake Bars
There are so many things to love about these moist carrot cake bars. The fact that they’re gluten free is just a small part of what makes them amazing!
These GLUTEN FREE carrot cake bars are an Easter favorite. All the flavor you love in an easy-to-eat bar, topped off with the best cream cheese carrot cake frosting…YUM!
I was going to make you wait to find out what we use to make this the most moist carrot cake recipe ever, but I guess I can’t keep a secret. It’s Carrot Baby Food ! You’ll have to trust me that it is amazing. I’m never looking back now that I know about this secret ingredient.
Every Easter dessert table needs a good carrot cake, and these gluten free bars are my new favorite dessert option. I’m always looking for the easiest way to make things, and this recipe is it!
I loaded our Carrot Cake Bars with chopped walnuts and cream cheese icing. I simply cannot get enough!
Gluten Free Carrot Cake Recipe
Making our favorite desserts into gluten-free desserts is surprisingly easy. These gluten free carrot cake bars are proof!
I’m obsessed because you don’t have to change a recipe at all to make it work for your family. Bob’s Red Mill 1:1 Gluten Free Baking Flour is such a quality ingredient. If you prefer regular all purpose flour , Bob’s also has that. I go back and forth as to which is my favorite! You can’t go wrong.
Don’t you love a recipe that you can customize? Add in those walnuts, raisins, or whatever else you think your carrot cake bars are in dire need. Carrot shreds? Sure! I was just too lazy. Let’s be honest!
Homemade Carrot Cake Bars (Secret Ingredient)
Okay, I know I already gave away my secret, but let’s really talk about it. We used carrot baby food to make these easy Carrot Cake Bars extra moist and flavorful.
It might sound strange to add baby food to your grown-up desserts, but it’s good. Trust me. Look at the ingredients and you’ll see carrot baby food is just CARROTS and WATER. They make this moist carrot sheet cake extra amazing (and easy), and that’s never a bad thing!
Would you consider gluten free carrot cake bars healthy?
Well, maybe they were before I piled on the cream cheese carrot cake frosting. Listen, I used low-fat cream cheese, okay, what more can you ask for? What would carrot cake be without the cream cheese icing? I can’t even fathom it!
How to Make Carrot Cake Bars
I told you this gluten free recipe was easy, and I wasn’t lying. It’s just a few simple steps, throw those bars in the oven, frost ’em, and serve ’em up!
- Start by beating the eggs and oil, then combine the flour, salt, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and baking soda, and add that into the egg mixture.
- Then mix in the carrot baby food and applesauce, and stir in walnuts.
- Pour the mixture into a baking pan, then bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
- To make the frosting, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy, then beat in the vanilla, and finally the confectioner’s sugar.
- Let the carrot cake bars cool, then frost them.
Be sure to watch the video to see how it’s done!
You’ll definitely want these gluten free carrot cake bars on your dessert table ASAP. The ultimate Easter feast is much easier than you ever thought! And of course you need to try our easy Skillet Carrot Cake recipe too.
Watch How to Make Carrot Cake Bars or see the recipe card below for full details. Enjoy!
We have so many great dessert recipes for Easter and beyond that you need to try:
- Easy Peach Cobbler
- French Silk Pie
- Strawberry Cake Mix Cookies
- Gluten Free Lemon Squares
- Hummingbird Cake
Ingredients1x2x3x
For the Carrot Cake Bars
- ▢ 3 large eggs 150 grams
- ▢ 1¼ cups vegetable oil 250 grams
- ▢ 2 cups Gluten Free Flour 296 grams
- ▢ 2 cups granulated sugar 400 grams
- ▢ 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 6 grams
- ▢ 1 teaspoon baking powder 4 grams
- ▢ ½ teaspoon Baking Soda 3 grams
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ¾ cup carrot baby food 188 grams
- ▢ ¾ cup unsweetened apple sauce 188 grams
- ▢ ½ cup chopped walnuts 57 grams
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- ▢ 8 ounces light cream cheese 227 grams, room temperature (1 brick)
- ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter 113 grams, room temperature (1 stick)
- ▢ 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- ▢ 3 cups powdered sugar 339 grams
Video
Instructions
For the Carrot Cake Bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 15x10-inch baking sheet with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the eggs and oil for 2 minutes. Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; add to the egg mixture. Add the baby food and applesauce; mix well. Stir in the walnuts. 3 large eggs, 1¼ cups vegetable oil, 2 cups Gluten Free Flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon Baking Soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¾ cup carrot baby food, ¾ cup unsweetened apple sauce, ½ cup chopped walnuts
- Transfer to the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a small bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar. 8 ounces light cream cheese, ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 3 cups powdered sugar
- Frost the pan with the cream cheese frosting and cut into bars.
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Hand Mixer
Becky’s Tips
- You can use regular flour if you’re not gluten free.
- If you can’t find carrot baby food, puree carrots in a food processor.
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gluten Free Carrot Cake Bars (Secret Ingredient)
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Baking Sheet
- Hand Mixer
Ingredients
For the Carrot Cake Bars
- 3 large eggs 150 grams
- 1¼ cups vegetable oil 250 grams
- 2 cups Gluten Free Flour 296 grams
- 2 cups granulated sugar 400 grams
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 6 grams
- 1 teaspoon baking powder 4 grams
- ½ teaspoon Baking Soda 3 grams
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup carrot baby food 188 grams
- ¾ cup unsweetened apple sauce 188 grams
- ½ cup chopped walnuts 57 grams
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounces light cream cheese 227 grams, room temperature (1 brick)
- ½ cup unsalted butter 113 grams, room temperature (1 stick)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- 3 cups powdered sugar 339 grams
Instructions
For the Carrot Cake Bars
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 15x10-inch baking sheet with nonstick spray. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the eggs and oil for 2 minutes. Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; add to the egg mixture. Add the baby food and applesauce; mix well. Stir in the walnuts. 3 large eggs, 1¼ cups vegetable oil, 2 cups Gluten Free Flour, 2 cups granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon Baking Soda, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ¾ cup carrot baby food, ¾ cup unsweetened apple sauce, ½ cup chopped walnuts
- Transfer to the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Allow to cool.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- In a small bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Gradually beat in the powdered sugar. 8 ounces light cream cheese, ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 3 cups powdered sugar
- Frost the pan with the cream cheese frosting and cut into bars.
Video
Notes
- You can use regular flour if you’re not gluten free.
- If you can’t find carrot baby food, puree carrots in a food processor.
Nutrition
By Becky Hardin
Published Jul 12, 2017
This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.
Essential Grocery List
It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!
It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.
However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.
In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.
I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List
What to Buy at the Grocery Store
This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.
When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.
So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Fresh Produce
- Apples
- Bananas
- Strawberries
- Avocados
- Bell Peppers
- Carrots
- Broccoli
- Garlic
- Lemons/Limes
- Onion
- Parsley
- Cilantro
- Basil
- Potatoes
- Spinach
- Tomatoes
GRAINS
- Breadcrumbs
- Pasta
- Quinoa
- Rice
- Sandwich Bread
- Tortillas
MEAT/PROTEIN
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Ground Beef
- Sliced Turkey
- Lunch Meat
DAIRY
- Butter
- Sliced Cheese
- Shredded Cheese
- Milk
- Sour Cream
- Greek Yogurt
BAKING GOODS
- Baking powder
- Baking Soda
- Granulated Sugar
- Brown Sugar
- Flour
- Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Dry Yeast
- Chocolate Chips
- Cocoa Powder
- Powdered Sugar
FREEZER
- Fruit and Berries
- Frozen Veggies (Corn, Peas, Broccoli, etc)
- Juice Concentrate
- Pizza or Other Convenience Meals
- Pie Crust
- Cookie Dough
CANNED/DRIED GOODS
- Chicken stock/broth
- Salsa
- Diced Tomatoes
- Jam/Jelly
- Peanut Butter
- Pasta Sauce
- Beans (Black Beans, Chickpeas, Baked Beans, etc)
- Soups
- Tuna
- Green Chiles
- Canned Veggies
- Coffee or Tea
Get more details on the best non-perishable and pantry foods
CONDIMENTS/SPICES
- Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Cinnamon
- Crushed Red Pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic Powder
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Mayo
- Nutmeg
- Paprika
- Salt (Course Sea Salt and Kosher Salt)
- Soy Sauce
- Steak Sauce
- Hot Sauce/ Buffalo Sauce
- Salad Dressings
OILS/VINEGARS
- Apple cider vinegar
- Balsamic vinegar
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Vegetable/Canola Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
- White Vinegar
- Cooking Wine
- White Wine Vinegar
SNACKS
- Crackers
- Nuts
- Quick Oats
- Popcorn
- Tortilla Chips
- Cereal
Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List for the perfectly stocked pantry and freezer!
Click ☝🏻 for my FREE Grocery List Printable!
I hope this essential grocery list can help you buy what you need and make your home cooking so much easier!
Stock Your Kitchen
Find more ideas for your grocery list, stock up your kitchen, and print more cooking guides and charts to keep handy!
Non-Perishable Foods to Stock Up On
Frozen Vegetables to Stock Up On (and Recipes to Make)
Ultimate List of Cooking Herbs for Your Kitchen
Ultimate List of Cooking Spices for Your Kitchen
Cooking Oil 101: Types of Cooking Oils to Use
26 Types of Pasta and When to Use Them
What Fruits and Vegetables are in Season?
Meat Temperature Chart (Free Printable)
How to Meal Prep (Guide for Beginners)
Basic Cooking Measurements & Kitchen Conversion Chart
