Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

A square oat bar topped with cream, surrounded by dried fruit and oats on a light surface.

Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

If you love carrot cake, these Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars are about to become your new favorite breakfast. They have all the classic carrot cake flavors you know and love- warm cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, naturally sweet grated carrots, chewy raisins, and a creamy cream cheese frosting, but baked into soft and hearty oatmeal bars. This easy one-bowl, 30-minute recipe is perfect for meal prep, a grab-and-go breakfast, or an afternoon snack. These bars are wholesome but still feel like you're eating a slice of carrot cake for breakfast!

Course Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Diet Low Salt, Vegetarian

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 23

Total Time 33

Servings servings

Calories 249kcal

Author Kelly Nash

Cost $10

Equipment

Ingredients

2 cups old-fashioned oats
½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup milk
2 large eggs at room temperature
¼ cup light brown sugar packed
¼ cup plain greek yogurt
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup freshly grated carrot
¼ cup raisins

Cream Cheese Frosting

2 oz cream cheese softened
½ tbsp unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
¼ tsp vanilla bean paste
Pinch of salt

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350℉. Line an 8x8 baking pan with parchment paper or spray with non-stick spray. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, coconut, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg until combined.
2 cups old-fashioned oats, ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon ginger, ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
To the same bowl, add in the milk, eggs, brown sugar, greek yogurt, and vanilla. Whisk together until everything is combined.
½ cup milk, 2 large eggs, ¼ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup plain greek yogurt, 1 tsp vanilla extract
Fold in the grated carrots and raisins until mixed throughout. Pour the batter into the prepared baking dish.
½ cup freshly grated carrot, ¼ cup raisins
Bake for 20-23 minutes, or until the oats are cooked through and lightly golden brown on top. Remove from the oven and allow them to cool in the pan for 10 minutes before removing to cool completely on a wire cooling rack.

Cream Cheese Frosting

While the bars are cooling, make the frosting. Using a bowl with an electric mixer, or a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the softened cream cheese and butter together. Add in the powdered sugar and vanilla bean paste. Mix until smooth (should be thick). Taste and add a pinch of salt to taste.
2 oz cream cheese, ½ tbsp unsalted butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, ¼ tsp vanilla bean paste, Pinch of salt
Once bars have cooled completely, cut them into squares and top them with a dollop of the frosting.

Notes

Oatmeal bars (without frosting) will last in an airtight container on the counter for 2-3 days, or in the fridge for up to a week. If you add frosting to all the bars, store them in the fridge as the cream cheese frosting needs to be refrigerated.
These bars can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Cream cheese frosting can be frozen as well! Defrost both by allowing them to sit at room temperature.

Nutrition