Easy Carrot Cake Bars (Doctored Cake Mix) 

If you love the flavor of carrot cake but the ease of a bar, have I got a treat for you. These luscious carrot cake bars come together in no time. And best of all, they start with a box of cake mix! 

Is it a Cake or a Bar? 

This, my friends, is the eternal question. You might think, since this starts with a box of cake mix, that this is a cake. 

I promise, it’s not! The bottom layer has more of a cookie consistency. And the top layer is made of cream cheese mixed with sweetened condensed milk. 

In short, it’s a carrot cake in bar form.

A Delicious Dessert or Snack

I decided, just for fun, to sprinkle some cinnamon-sugar mix on top of the cream cheese layer to tie all of the flavors together. 

The result? 

Well, I’ll tell you more about that when the time comes! In the meantime, I want to thank my good friend Debby at Southern Home Express, who gave me the idea for cake mix bars by posting her recipe for Lemon Bars. 

Carrot Cake Bar Ingredients

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick peek at what you’ll need. You might already have these simple ingredients on hand in your pantry or refrigerator. 

• a box of carrot cake mix
• room temperature egg
• melted butter
• room temperature cream cheese
• sweetened condensed milk
• sugar
• cinnamon

How to Make these Delicious Carrot Cake Bars

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Prepare your 9×13-inch baking dish before beginning.

Spray it with vegetable oil and then adding a piece of parchment paper. Lightly spray the parchment paper with Baker’s Joy or butter. 

Place dry cake mix in a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer with paddle attachment. Add the egg and melted butter. (You can always use an electric mixer if you don’t have a stand mixer.)

Mix until it comes together. Dough will be the consistency of cookie dough not a traditional carrot cake.

(Note: If you decide to add grated carrots, this is the point to grate them with your box grater and add them into the dough.)

Press the dough into the prepared baking pan. Use all of it. 

Place in oven and bake for ten minutes. 

While crust is baking, place your block of cream cheese in the mixer (or medium bowl) and whip until light and fluffy. Be sure to scrape down the sides of your bowl so you don’t miss any. 

Slowly work in the sweetened condensed milk. 

Keep mixing until cream cheese mixture is smooth and creamy. 

Pour cream cheese mixture over partially baked carrot cake layer. 

Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar. 

Place back in the oven for 30 minutes. 

Bake until the top layer is set. 

Remove and place on wire rack to cool. Cool for a full house and then place in the refrigerator for another hour to chill. 

Slice into squares.

Serve and enjoy! 

Store leftovers in airtight container in refrigerator for 4 – 5 days (or cover tightly with plastic wrap). 

This dish can be frozen and eaten later. Allow to thaw naturally. 

What to Expect from Dreamy Carrot Cake Dessert Bars

Carrot cake lovers, unite! Talk about an amazing flavor combination! This bar has it all!

If you love carrot cake with cream cheese frosting you’re going to love this quick, easy bar. (And not just in the fall! These are great any time of year.)

The bottom layer is cookie-like, rich with carrot cake flavor. (I just love those warm spices!) 

The top layer has the loveliest texture and taste. I really loved it. And that cinnamon-sugar on top? Well, let’s just say it’s the icing on the cake. It brings everything together. 

I’m so glad I tried this flavor combination. I will be using this recipe often! I think my family members will love it! 

Variations on this Recipe

You could take just about any cake flavor and add the cream cheese-sweetened condensed milk mixture on top. Here are a few cakes that do well with a cream cheese frosting: 

Cream Cheese swirl: Hold back some of the cake batter. Thin it down with water and swirl it into the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk mixture.

Grated carrots: Add half a cup of grated carrots to the dough before baking. (Yum!)

Brown sugar: Add half a cup to the dough before mixing. This will add depth of flavor.

Vanilla extract: This is always a nice addition.

Cream cheese carrot cake bars: Skip the cream cheese and sweetened condensed milk. Just bake the crust for 30 minutes then add a traditional cream cheese frosting to the cooled crust. Sprinkle with grated carrots or chopped pecans.

Red Velvet. I mean. . .yum! Mix up the red velvet cake, butter and egg. . .then top with the cream cheese mixture (or a simple cream cheese frosting after baking the bottom layer by itself). Instead of cinnamon-sugar on top, you can add a few chocolate chips after it bakes. Put them on while the bars are still hot so that they melt. 

Italian Cream: Start with a yellow cake. Add butter, egg, half a cup of coconut and half a cup of chopped pecans. Top with cream cheese-sweetened condensed milk topping, then sprinkle more coconut and pecans on top. 

Golden Butter: Place golden butter cake mix, egg, and butter in bottom of dish. Use the same cream cheese-sweetened condensed milk mixture on top, but add a quarter cup of cocoa powder to it. Voila! Golden Butter Bars with Chocolate Topping. 

Other Cake Mix Recipes from Out of the Box Baking

If you liked this recipe you’re sure to enjoy several more of my doctored cake mix recipes. Here are a few fan favorites: 

My favorite carrot cake recipe can be found on this very blog! Check it out!

Strawberry Cheesecake Scones: If you love the idea of strawberry cheesecake but you’re also a scone lover, this is the recipe for you. Best of all, this recipe starts with a simple white cake mix!

A Dozen Sweet Treats that Start with a White Cake Mix: Check out these twelve recipes that all start with a simple box of cake mix. 

Cake Mix Cinnamon Roll Pastries: If you want the ease of a boxed bake mix but the flavor and joy of a luscious cinnamon roll, do I have a brand new recipe for you! These tasty treats have the look of homemade cinnamon rolls but the taste and texture of a high-end pastry–light, crisp and oh, so cinnamony!

Easy Cake Mix Cherry Pies: If you want the flavor of a cherry pie but the ease of a quick doctored cake mix, then this is the recipe for you!

Follow this link for a comprehensive post listing more of my fall cookies and bars, perfect for autumn!

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Learn more about doctored cake mixes, the theme of this blog. 

For the master list of all doctored cake mix recipes on this site, visit Doctored Cake Mix Recipes, Master List. 

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That’s it for this post, friends! I hope you enjoyed this delicious carrot cake bars recipe. 

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