Carrot Cake Bars

Ingredients

• FOR THE CAKE BARS:
• ½ cups Unsweetened Applesauce
• ⅔ cups Sugar
• 2 whole Large Eggs
• 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 1-¼ cup Whole Wheat Flour
• 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
• 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 3 whole Large Carrots, Finely Grated
• ½ cups Chopped Walnuts
• FOR THE ICING:
• 4 Tablespoons Butter, Room Temperature
• 4 ounces, weight Cream Cheese, Room Temperature
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• 2 cups Powdered Sugar
• FOR THE TOPPING:
• 1 cup Chopped Walnuts

Preparation Instructions

For the cake bars:
Start by whisking the applesauce, sugar, eggs, oil and vanilla in a bowl until blended.

In another large bowl, sift the whole wheat flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Make a well in the flour and add the apple/sugar mixture and blend well.

Next, add the grated carrots and walnuts to the cake batter and mix well. Pour the mixture into a rectangle baking pan and bake in a 350ºF oven for 35 minutes or until an inserted skewer comes out clean. Cool completely, before icing.

For the icing:
Add the cream cheese, butter and vanilla extract to a bowl and beat until blended until blended. Next, add the icing sugar, sifting 1/4 cup at a time into the cream cheese mixture. Beat until smooth.

Smooth the icing over the top of the cooled cake. Decorate with walnut pieces. Slice into bars.