Healthy Carrot Cake Bars made with almond flour, no refined sugars, and all the carrot cake flavors and textures we love with a healthy cream cheese frosting to match!
This recipe is a no-fuss version of my slightly more elaborate almond flour carrot cake and healthy carrot cake!
Table of Contents
I made these healthy carrot cake bars one night when I was craving a deliciously moist carrot cake with a luscious cream cheese frosting but didn’t want to make an entire layer cake!
So, I made a shortcut version and had the best of both worlds. An easy gluten-free single-layer cake spiced with cinnamon and loaded with carrots and raisins.
Of course, I had to top my healthy carrot cake bars with a healthy cream cheese frosting. I mean, I was feeling lazy, but not that lazy!
Ingredients You’ll Need
You probably have all simple ingredients you need to make these healthy carrot cake bars. If not, nothing will be hard to find!
- Baking essentials: Eggs, milk, a neutral-tasting oil, pure vanilla extract, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. The oils I recommend are olive oil, avocado oil, liquid coconut oil, or even butter would be great.
- Almond flour: I use super fine blanched almond flour. Not almond meal. It’ll look light and almost powder-like. You can buy it at any grocery store or save money and make homemade almond flour.
- Maple syrup: The flavor of maple adds another element, especially during the fall and winter. You can use any sweetener, liquid or dry, that you want. Honey is another great choice.
- Shredded carrots: Freshly grate your own just before adding them in for maximum flavor and moisture.
- Optional: Raisins, unsweetened coconut flakes, chopped walnuts or pecans are all classic carrot cake ingredients but totally flexible. Keep what you like and omit what you don’t, based on taste, allergies, or dietary restrictions.
- Cooking spray: I use misto.
- Healthy cream cheese frosting: The best frosting made without refined sugar or butter. You also have the option of using my healthy buttercream frosting or Greek yogurt frosting.
How to Make Healthy Carrot Cake Bars
Here is a quick step-by-step overview how to make healthy carrot cake bars. There is full recipe card below.
Step 1: In a large mixing bowl, add everything except the almond flour and optional add-ins. This includes the eggs maple syrup, milk, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Then you’ll add the almond flour, carrots, raisins, and coconut flakes and stir well to combine.
Step 2: Pour batter into a parchment-lined 8×8 baking dish that’s been sprayed with cooking spray. Level it with a spatula and bake on the middle rack of the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes.
When it’s ready, the edges and top will be golden brown.
Step 3: Remove cake from the oven and allow it to cool for 5 minutes before removing it from the dish. Use the parchment paper to lift it out onto a cooling rack.
Frost, only once it has completely cooled.
While the carrot cake is in the oven, that’s a great time to whip our healthy cream cheese frosting recipe! Then store it in the fridge until you’re ready to spread it.
Once you’ve slathered a layer on top, finish it off with a sprinkling of extra walnuts. Slice into bars and enjoy!
Can I Use Any Other Types of Flour?
Unfortunately not! The properties of almond flour are pretty specific to just almond flour. Using other kinds will result in a different texture and definitely a different flavor!
If you’re not interested in keeping it gluten-free, then you could bake half recipe of my healthy carrot cake and cut into bars.
How to Store Carrot Cake Bars
Keep them covered in an airtight container and store them in the fridge for up to 5 days.
These healthy carrot cake bars freeze super well. I like to flash freeze them on a baking tray first. Keep them separated so they don’t freeze in a clump.
Then, transfer them to a freezer-friendly bag or airtight container and pop them in the freezer. For the next 3 months, you can reach into the freezer and grab one whenever you want!
FAQs
Yes, you can add one scoop of unflavored or vanilla whey or plant-based protein powder to the batter.
Yes. Add up to 1/3 cup of well-drained and squeezed crushed pineapple or pineapple pieces.
Yes. Use any dry or liquid sugar-free sweetener like stevia or erythritol.
Yes. Follow the same directions, fill the muffin tin to about 3/4 of the way and bake for 17-20 minutes. Use a toothpick to check to see if they’re done at 17 minutes. Top with thick Greek yogurt frosting for healthy dessert!
More Carrot Recipes to Try
- Healthy carrot muffins
- Carrot cake baked oatmeal
- Carrot cake baked oatmeal bars
- Banana carrot muffins
- Zucchini carrot muffins
More Almond Flour Recipes to Try
You may also love to browse over 20 almond flour recipes!
Healthy Carrot Cake Bars
Ingredients
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey
- 2 tbsp any milk
- 1 tbsp any mild tasting oil
- 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 cups super fine blanched almond flour
- 3/4 cups carrots shredded
- 1/2 cups walnuts or pecans + more for garnish chopped
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 3 tbsp unsweetened coconut flakes
- Cooking spray I use Misto
- 1 1/2 cups healthy cream cheese frosting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line square 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add eggs, maple syrup, milk, oil, vanilla, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Whisk. Add almond flour, carrots, walnuts, raisins and coconut flakes. Stir well to combine.
- Transfer batter into previosuly prepared pan, level with spatula and bake on a middle rack of the oven for 30-35 minutes or until edges and top are nice golden brown.
- While cake is baking, make the frosting and refrigerate.
- Remove cake from the oven, wait 5 minutes and then holding onto parchment paper flaps remove cake onto a cooling rack to cool off completely before frosting.
- Spread frosting on top of the cake and garnish with extra walnuts. Cut into 9 bars and enjoy!
Notes
- Store: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freeze: I like to freeze carrot bars on a baking tray (not touching) until solid and then transfer them to an airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Almond flour: I recommend sticking to this flour because it’s quite different than others.
- Oil: I used avocado oil. Light olive oil, melted coconut oil or butter are great too.
- Sweetener: You can use honey or any other liquid sweetener (dry can work as well), just keep in mind taste might change (especially with honey).
- Add-ins: Like raisins, walnuts and coconut flakes are for flavor, customizable and can be omitted or swapped (allergies and taste).
- Frosting: You can also use my healthy buttercream frosting or all Greek yogurt frosting.
Love these carrot cake bars. I’m learning how to bake with almond flour due to dietary restrictions in the household. These bars are basically a small carrot cake and they are moist and delicious. I’ve made them several times, and they are my go to for an easy delicious gift for a friend or a dessert. Kid approved and loved by everyone.
So nice of you to say, so happy you loved it!
Super easy and delicious; perfect size for,our small family;
Thank you for a great recipe.
P S: my grandma was from Ukraine, too.
My pleasure.:)
How many cupcakes does it make ? If i made it in to cupcakes instead of bars.
I am sorry, I am not sure as I haven’t tried. I know it is possible. Please let me know if you try.
Love how easy and delicious this was! Since this one is almost gone, will need to make another for the Easter holiday!
So glad you enjoy it, disappears fast around here, too!