Healthy Carrot Cake Bars with Greek Yogurt Frosting

Easy to make and incredibly delicious, these Healthy Carrot Cake Bars are the perfect healthy dessert for spring! This carrot cake recipe is also naturally gluten-free, low-carb, and refined sugar-free with a delicious greek yogurt frosting.

Prep:

20

minutes

Cook:

20

minutes

Total:

40

minutes

Servings:

9

Ingredients

For the Carrot Cake

  • 1/4 C creamy almond butter
  • 1/4 C unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/4 C coconut sugar (or brown sugar)
  • 3/4 C Stevia (or other zero-calorie sweetener)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp vinegar
  • 2/3 C almond flour
  • 2 Tbsp flaxseed
  • 1/3 C vanilla protein powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp baking soda
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp cloves
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 3/4 C quick oats
  • 1 C shredded carrots

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

  • 4 oz. low fat cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1/4 C nonfat vanilla greek yogurt
  • 1/3 C vanilla protein powder
  • 3/4 C Stevia (or other zero-calorie sweetener)
  • 2 tsp sugar-free maple syrup*, optional

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mash the cream cheese with the greek yogurt until well combined. Whisk in the protein powder, Stevia, and maple syrup until smooth. (If you like a thicker frosting, use 1/2 tsp maple extract in place of the maple syrup.) Cover with plastic wrap and set in the fridge for at least 2 hours.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray an aluminum 8x8 baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
  3. In a stand mixer**, cream together the almond butter, applesauce, coconut sugar, and Stevia until well combined. Mix in the eggs, vanilla, and vinegar.
  4. In a medium bowl, sift together the almond flour, flaxseed, protein powder, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Slowly incorporate into the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined. Gently fold in the oats and carrots. Pour the cake batter into the greased 8x8 baking dish and spread in an even layer.
  5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool completely to room temperature (about 2 hours), then spread the frosting on top in an even layer. Slice into 9 bars and enjoy!

Notes

*If you like a thicker frosting, use 1/2 tsp maple extract in place of the maple syrup.

**You can also make these carrot cake bars by hand, but make sure you combine the wet ingredients very well before adding in the dry ingredients.

Nutrition facts are a calculated estimate of 1/9 of the prepared pan with frosting on top.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 bar / Calories: 250 / Fat: 13.1g / Carbohydrates: 17.6g / Fiber: 3.6g  / Protein: 14g

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