Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars

4.4
(5)
3 Reviews

Enjoy these delightful carrot cake oatmeal bars, perfect for a snack or dessert alongside a steaming cup of coffee. Made with a blend of shredded carrots, oats and a hint of brown sugar, these easy bars capture the essence of carrot cake, while offering a boost of fiber and less sugar than cake. Portable and convenient, these bars can be enjoyed on the move. To make these bars gluten-free, opt for gluten-free oats.

By
Carolyn Casner
Carolyn Casner

Carolyn Casner is a longtime recipe tester and contributor for EatingWell. Over the years, she has tested and developed hundreds of recipes for the magazine and website.

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Updated on February 15, 2024
Tested by
Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer
Tested by Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer is a freelance recipe developer, tester and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working as a freelancer in the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes.
Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen
Reviewed by Dietitian
Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD
Emily Lachtrupp Headshot
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston.

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Active Time:
25 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 50 mins
Servings:
9
Nutrition Profile:
Sesame-Free Soy-Free Vegetarian High-Protein Gluten-Free
Jump to Nutrition Facts
the ingredients to make the Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Ingredients

Bars

  • 2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats

  • 1/2 cup chopped toasted pecans or shredded unsweetened coconut

  • 1 teaspoon baking powder

  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger

  • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/2 cup low-fat milk

  • 2 large eggs, at room temperature

  • 6 tablespoons light brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

  • 1/2 cup shredded carrot

  • 1/4 cup raisins

Glaze

  • 2 ounces cream cheese, softened

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar

  • 2 tablespoons low-fat milk

  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

a recipe photo of the Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars

Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

  1. To make bars: Stir oats, pecans (or coconut), baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, baking soda, nutmeg and salt together in a large bowl. Whisk ½ cup milk, eggs, brown sugar and applesauce in a medium bowl until well combined. Add the milk mixture to the oat mixture; stir until well combined. Fold in carrot and raisins. Let the mixture stand at room temperature for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

    a photo of the oat mixture and milk mixture stirred together

    Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line bottom and sides of an 8-inch-square baking pan with foil. Lightly coat with cooking spray.

  3. Spread the mixture evenly in the prepared pan. Bake until set and edges are starting to turn golden, 35 to 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Using the edges of the foil as handles, transfer to a cutting board and let cool to room temperature.

  4. Meanwhile, make glaze: Place cream cheese and confectioners’ sugar in a small bowl; beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Add milk and vanilla; continue beating until smooth. Spread over the top of the cooled oat bars. Cut into 9 pieces.

    a photo of the baked oat bars with the glazed smeared on to it

    Photographer: Brie Goldman, Food Stylist: Lauren McAnelly, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

To make ahead

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

EatingWell.com, January 2024

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

203 Calories
7g Fat
27g Carbs
9g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 9
Serving Size 1 bar
Calories 203
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 27g 10%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 13g
Protein 9g 19%
Total Fat 7g 8%
Saturated Fat 3g 13%
Cholesterol 63mg 21%
Vitamin A 99µg
Vitamin C 2mg 2%
Vitamin D 1µg
Vitamin E 0mg 2%
Folate 14µg
Vitamin K 2µg
Sodium 209mg 9%
Calcium 91mg 7%
Iron 1mg 8%
Magnesium 37mg 9%
Potassium 245mg 5%
Zinc 1mg 12%
Vitamin B12 0µg
Omega 3 0g

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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