4 Ingredient Carrot Cake Oatmeal Bars
These carrot cake oatmeal bars are simple and wholesome. They have a soft, chewy texture with bits of carrot and oats in every bite. Gluten-free, egg-free, and dairy-free, it’s perfect for various dietary needs.
Ingredients
- 6 oz (170 g) chopped carrots, peels and stems removed, or baby cut carrots (see note before starting)
- 2 cups (475 g) unsweetened cinnamon applesauce
- 2 cups (176 g) old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 tsp (9 g) baking powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (177°C). Line a 8-inch square pan with parchment paper, leaving some overhang for easy removal later.
- Add chopped or baby cut carrots to the bowl of a food processor. Pulse a few seconds until the carrots are finely chopped. See photo in post for refernece.
- Add the remaining ingredients and blend on high speed until the mixture is evenly combined but there’s still some texture and visible bits of carrots and oats throughout. It shouldn’t be completely smooth and the oats should be partially broken down but not fully broken down. See photo in post for reference. Scrape down the sides as needed to ensure everything is evenly incorporated.
- Transfer the batter to the prepared baking pan, spreading it out evenly with a spatula.
- Bake for about 40-45 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown, the surface is slightly puffy and has cracks throughout. When you press down on the surface, it will not completely bounce back but it also shouldn’t be mushy.
- Let the bars cool completely before slicing or serving. If desired, you can also frost the bars before serving. Store uneaten bars in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
- Carrot note: Try to choose thinner, younger carrots which will be more tender. Peel and remove stems before using. You can also use baby cut carrots which are more tender and sweet and don't require peeling.
- Applesauce note: If you can't find unsweetened cinnamon applesauce, you can add 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon to regular unsweetened applesauce. I used Whole Foods 365 unsweetened cinnamon applesauce.*
- *These product links are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- Sweetness note: These oatmeal bars are not sweet like traditional carrot cake. They are meant to be healthy carrot cake oatmeal bars. You can add sweetness by adding sugar, honey or maple syrup to the oatmeal batter. You can also add sweet mix-ins like raisins or chocolate chips. You can also top with a sweet icing.
- If you need these to be gluten-free, make sure to use gluten-free rolled oats.
- Optional Frosting: The bars in the photos are topped with a healthier "frosting" which is actually just vanilla Greek yogurt and some maple syrup. You can substitute with a dairy-free thick yogurt if you need these to be dairy-free. The frosting adds a little sweetness and creates a creamy topping for those who want frosting on their bars but want a healthier alternative.
- 2 cups vanilla Greek yogurt
- maple syrup, if needed
- To make the frosting, add the yogurt to a medium bowl and whisk until it is smooth and creamy. If needed, you can add a little bit of maple syrup to thin it out if you need a runnier consistency. It should have a consistency similar to cream cheese frosting. Frost bars with yogurt and garnish with some finely chopped pecans if desired.
- Estimated nutrition does not include optional frosting.
Serving: 1bar, Calories: 80kcal, Carbohydrates: 16g, Protein: 2g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0.2g, Sodium: 71mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, NET CARBS: 13
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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