If you love carrot cake but want a healthier, fuss-free version, these carrot cake bars are just the thing. 

Made with wholefood ingredients and naturally sweetened with dates and raisins, they’re packed with fibre, healthy fats, and gorgeous spices. 

The texture is soft & chewy and they are full of flavour. A great option for Easter.  

Why You’ll Love These Carrot Cake Bars 

• Quick and simple – Just blend everything together and bake for 20 minutes.
• Healthy & nutrient-packed – Full of fibre, vitamins, and minerals, they’re a power house of a snack.
• Perfect for easy snacking – Stores well in the fridge, making them ideal for easy treats.
• Naturally vegan and gluten-free – A whole food snack that suits various dietary needs.
• Refined sugar free – using dates and raisins as the only sweeteners.

How to make these Carrot Cake Bars

Simply add all the ingredients to a food processor and blitz for a couple of minutes until smooth.  

Spoon into a baking tin and bake for about 20 mins.

Once cool, cut into 10 bars and enjoy!

You can also add an optional drizzle of chocolate and some extra walnuts, if you like, but they are great on their own. 

What are the ingredients?

• Medjool dates 
• Raisins  
• Oats 
• Walnuts  
• Desiccated coconut 
• Carrot  
• Orange 
• Ground cinnamon & ginger

Medjool Dates

Using Medjool dates to bind the bars together provides a natural sweetness whilst also being high in fibre, potassium, and antioxidants. They are refined sugar free and provide a great taste and texture to the bars. 

Raisins 

Like the dates, raisins bring a bit of a chewy texture to these bars. They are high in natural sugars but are high in fibre so in most people the fibre will slow down some of the sugar spike. Raisins are also a good source of iron and potassium. 

Oats

Oats are a fantastic whole-grain packed with fibre. They are rich in complex carbohydrates, which provide slow-releasing energy. They contain a range of essential nutrients, including B vitamins, iron, and magnesium, all of which support energy production and overall health. 

Walnuts

High in omega-3 fatty acids, walnuts are known for supporting brain health. They are also high in protein and healthy fats, keeping you full and satisfied.

Desiccated Coconut

Coconut is rich in healthy fats, particularly medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are quickly absorbed by the body and used as an immediate source of energy. It’s also high in fibre and minerals such as manganese. 

Carrots 

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that your body converts into vitamin A. They’re also a great source of fibre, which can help keep you feeling fuller for longer. Carrots bring natural moisture to the bars without the need for oil. 

Orange

Known for their Vitamin C content, oranges are a great addition to these bars. Adding the zest as well as the juice really amplifies the flavour. 

Storage Tips

These carrot cake oat bars can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. If you refrigerate, they stay fresh longer. In the fridge, they will keep well for up to 5-6 days. 

If you want to store them for a longer period, you can freeze them. They’ll last for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Recipe Tips:

Use soft medjool dates – If your dates are a little dry, soak them in warm water for 10 minutes before blending.

Grate the carrots – For the best texture, make sure your carrot is grated before adding to the food processor. This allows it to blend more easily into the bars without leaving large chunks.

Chill before slicing – Let the bars cool fully before cutting them. This makes them easier to slice cleanly.

Make it extra indulgent – Drizzle some melted dairy-free white chocolate over the bars and sprinkle with chopped walnuts.

Which oats: I used gluten free rolled oats for this recipe. Any will do as you are blending them.

Swap the walnuts: you can swap them for any other nut. Pecans or cashews are good swaps as they have a similar consistency.

If you liked these carrot cake bars, why not try these other Easter recipes:

Carrot Cake Energy Balls

Carrot Cake Doughnuts

Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

Carrot Cake Bars

Helen Ridgeway Helen Ridgeway

If you want a healthier take on a carrot cake, try these Carrot Cake Bars. The combination of carrot & orange with oats, dates and spices, gives the bars a fantastic taste. They’re naturally gluten and refined sugar-free, making them a perfect choice for anyone looking for a healthy, homemade snack.

4.67 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 25 minutes mins

Course Dessert, Snack

Servings 10

Calories 243 kcal

Equipment

• Magimix food processor *affiliate link

Ingredients

 

Base ingredients:

• 1½ cups soft medjool dates pitted (about 225g)
• ½ cup raisins (75g)
• 1 cup rolled oats (100g)
• 1 cup walnuts (100g)
• ½ cup desiccated coconut (40g)
• ½ cup grated carrot (1 med carrot)
• Zest of an orange and 2 tbsp of juice
• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp sea salt

Optional topping:

• A drizzle of white chocolate and a few chopped walnuts

Instructions

 

• Preheat the oven to 190C (170C fan oven) or 350F.
• Add all the ingredients to a food processor and blitz for a couple of minutes. It should be gooey and soft with no large nut pieces remaining. If your dates are hard or it seems too dry, add a tbsp or two more orange juice. It should be quite wet and soft.
• Spoon the mixture into a 20cm (8in) lined baking tin. Press down firmly so it is tightly packed in.
• Bake for about 18-20 mins. Allow to cool in the tin. Once cool, cut into 10 bars. You can also add an optional drizzle of chocolate and some extra walnuts.

Notes

• Once baked, they will last for about 4 days. I like to store in the fridge as they stay hard (and last longer). However, if you prefer a softer texture then room temperature is fine.
• To make nut free – substitute the walnuts for sunflower seeds. 

 

*This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a small commission when you purchase through these links (at no extra cost to you). I only endorse products that I personally use or have tested.

Nutrition

Calories: 243kcalCarbohydrates: 32.3gProtein: 4.1gFat: 11.2gSaturated Fat: 3.4gFiber: 4.5g

Keyword carrot cake, oat bars

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