Description
Delight in these moist and flavorful Maple Glazed Carrot Cake Bars, packed with grated carrots, warm spices, and crunchy walnuts. Topped with a smooth and sweet maple glaze, they’re the perfect treat for any occasion.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- 2 cups grated carrots (about 4 medium carrots)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3 large eggs
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup maple syrup
Additional Ingredients
- 1 cup walnuts, chopped
Maple Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to get it ready for baking the bars.
- Prepare Baking Pan: Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan or line it with parchment paper for easy removal of the bars.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt to evenly distribute the leavening and spices.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, mix grated carrots, brown sugar, and vegetable oil until blended. Add eggs one at a time, mixing well after each addition, then stir in the vanilla extract.
- Combine Wet and Dry: Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently until just combined to avoid overmixing. Fold in the chopped walnuts for crunch.
- Bake: Pour the batter evenly into the prepared baking pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, checking doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center which should come out clean.
- Prepare Maple Glaze: While the bars cool, whisk together powdered sugar, maple syrup, and milk in a bowl until you get a smooth, pourable glaze. Adjust milk as needed for desired consistency.
- Glaze and Serve: Once the bars are completely cool, drizzle the maple glaze evenly over the top. Slice into bars and serve.
Notes
- Ensure the bars are fully cooled before glazing to prevent the glaze from melting and running off.
- You can substitute walnuts with pecans if preferred.
- For a dairy-free glaze, replace milk with almond or oat milk.
- Store the bars in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or refrigerate for up to a week.
- To enhance flavor, let the bars sit overnight before serving.
