Recently I found this recipe for Carrot Bars with Orange Icing in one of my mother’s old recipe books. I decided to give it a try and I’m so happy that I did. Not only are these bars delicious, but they are also extremely easy to make gluten-free. As a matter of fact, all of the photos within this post are of gluten-free Carrot Bars.
To help support our blogging activities, our site contains affiliate links. If you purchase from a link on our site, we may receive a small percentage of that sale, at no extra cost to you. Blessed Beyond Crazy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. This affiliate advertising program is designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com
An Easy Freezer-Friendly Dessert
I personally think that these Carrot Bars are delicious! I often make them ahead of time and freeze them for use later. When needed, I simply thaw the bars and warm them up for a few seconds in my microwave right before serving.
You can freeze the bars whole in a 9×13 baking pan with a lid, or cut the bars, place them into food grade meal prep containers and freeze the containers.
Carrots are Nutritious
Usually when I think of sweet, crunchy carrots I remember helping my mother plant them in our garden when I was a child. Carrot seeds are tiny and we had to be extra careful because the wind could easily blow them away.
As you know, carrots are quite nutritious and add a lovely pop of color to salads. But they are also good in soups and Beef Stew, Carrot Bread, Chicken Primavera, Stir-Fry, and desserts such as Carrot Cake.
To make the batter begin by combining flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Next, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, mashed carrots, orange juice, and orange zest. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir. Pour mixture into a buttered 9×13 cake pan.
Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or when a cake tester inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean. Cool the bars for 30 minutes before icing them.
The icing consists of a combination of powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. After the bars are cool, spread the icing evenly over the top of the bars.
Finally, cut the bars and serve. Store leftovers in a food grade air-tight container.
Every tender bite of this delightful dessert puts a smile on my face.
Carrot Bars with Orange Icing
Not only is this dessert delicious, but it's also extremely easy to make gluten-free. These bars can easily be made ahead of time and frozen. Simply thaw the Carrot Bars and warm them up for a few seconds in the microwave right before serving.
Ingredients
- BARS
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (GF Option: use a gluten-free flour blend)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3/4 cup butter, softened
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup cooked, mashed carrots
- 1/3 cup orange juice
- 2 teaspoons orange zest
- ORANGE ICING
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Orange juice - just enough to make the glaze spreadable
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
Instructions
- Combine flour, baking powder, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon.
- Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, mashed carrots, orange juice, and orange zest. Add flour mixture. Pour mixture into a buttered 9x13 cake pan.
- Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven for 30 to 35 minutes, or when a cake tester inserted into the center of the bars comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes.
- To make the icing combine powdered sugar, orange juice, and orange zest. Spread evenly over the top of the bars.
- Store in an air-tight container.
Notes
These bars freeze well for up to 4 weeks.
What’s your favorite recipe using carrots?
Enjoy!
More great ideas:
Leave a Reply