Carrot Cake Bars

🧂 Ingredients

• nonstick spray ($0.01)
• 6 Tbsp vegetable oil (3 oz., $0.22)
• ½ cup brown sugar (packed, (100g) $0.22)
• 2 large eggs ($0.33)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract (5ml, $0.68)
• 1 cup grated carrots (about 1½ medium/2 small carrots, (100 g) $0.21)
• 1 cup all-purpose flour (120g, $0.17)
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon (3g, $0.05)
• ½ tsp baking soda (3g, $0.01)
• ½ tsp salt (4g, $0.02)
• 3 Tbsp walnuts (chopped, (22g) $0.65)
• 2 Tbsp granulated sugar (25g, $0.04)
• 4 oz. cream cheese (softened, (113g) $0.78)
• 1 large egg yolk ($0.17*)
• ½ tsp vanilla extract (2.5ml, $0.34)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1

   Gather and prep all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350°F and spray an 8x8 baking dish with non-stick spray.

2. 2

   In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla until smooth.

3. 3

   Stir in the grated carrots, flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Stir just until combined.

4. 4

   Fold in walnuts.

5. 5

   In a medium bowl, beat together granulated sugar and cream cheese until smooth using a hand mixer.

6. 6

   Add the egg yolk and vanilla and mix until creamy and lump-free.

7. 7

   Add half of the carrot cake batter into the prepared pan and about half of the cream cheese mixture as dollops.

8. 8

   Spread the remaining cake batter over the top, then finish by spooning the rest of the cream cheese mixture over it in dollops.

9. 9

   Use a knife or skewer and swirl batters together.

10. 10

    Bake for 35-40 minutes, until the center is set and the cheesecake swirl no longer looks wet. A toothpick should come out mostly clean with a few moist crumbs.

11. 11

    Cool completely in the pan and cut into squares and serve.