Put a spin on your Easter celebrations with carrot cake swirled cream cheese bars, which are going to surprise and delight your guests!
Vegetable casseroles and carrot cake have been Easter menu mainstays for decades, but with the majority of millennials now hosting holiday family gatherings, retro dishes are getting a flavorful facelift with new ingredients and flavor twists.
Put a Twist on Easter Dinner!
Before we delve into this scrumptious recipe, Chef Kevan Vetter of the McCormick Kitchens is offering us some tips to put a new spin on Easter favorites:
- Liven up the Easter ham with a spicy-sweet glaze of apricot jam, pineapple juice and chipotle chili pepper. Brush on a spiral-cut ham before roasting in the oven.
- Upgrade a traditional vegetable casserole by sprinkling a layer of cheddar cheese and topping with potato tots. Bake until the tots are crisp and golden brown and the casserole is bubbly.
- Combine two classic Easter desserts in one; swirl carrot cake batter into a smooth and creamy cheesecake base with a hint of lemon with the following recipe, offered by McCormick. Bake and cut into bars.
Carrot Cake Swirled Cream Cheese Bars
Ingredients:
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided
- 2 cups sugar, divided
- 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick Ground Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs, divided
- 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots
- 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Lemon Extract
Find more inspiring recipes on Mommy Evolution!
Elevate your holiday meal with these creative updates to Easter classics. For more recipes and tips, check out McCormick.com.
Carrot Cake Swirled Cream Cheese Bars
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
Author: The Jenny Evolution
Ingredients
- 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided
- 2 cups sugar, divided
- 1½ teaspoons McCormick Ground Cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup vegetable oil
- 4 eggs, divided
- 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1½ cups finely grated carrots
- 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Lemon Extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325°F.
- Mix 1 cup each of flour and sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl.
- Add oil, 2 eggs, vanilla extract and carrots; mix well.
- Spread ½ of the batter into greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan. Reserve remaining batter. Set aside.
- Beat cream cheese and remaining 1 cup sugar in another large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended.
- Add milk, remaining 2 tablespoons flour and lemon extract; beat until well blended.
- Add remaining 2 eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended.
- Drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture and reserved carrot cake batter, alternately, over carrot cake batter in pan.
- Cut through several times with knife for marble effect.
- Bake 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.
Tara Siudy (Little Miss Dexterous) says
March 25, 2016 at 9:04 amThese look amazing! Pinned and sharing!
SweetJ says
March 25, 2016 at 12:48 pmThese look delicious! Definitely an instapin!
Quinn Caudill says
March 28, 2016 at 9:18 amJenny these bars sound wonderful. Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday. Can’t wait to see what you bring to the party this week. Pinned!
Lou Lou Girls says
March 28, 2016 at 2:27 pmHello cute lady! I’m stopping by to let you know that you’re yummy carrot cake bars will be featured at our party tonight! Woo Hoo! Pinned and tweeted I hope to see you tonight, so we can party with you again! Lou Lou Girls
The Jenny Evolution says
March 28, 2016 at 4:56 pmYahoo! Thanks for the feature. I will be sure to stop by 😀
Kim says
March 28, 2016 at 8:16 pmThese look to die for!! Pinning and can’t wait to try them!!! I hope you will stop by at Baking For Blessings and share them on Wordless Wednesday tomorrow evening!! #OMHGWW
Stephanie - Somewhat Simple says
March 28, 2016 at 10:28 pmThese look amazing! Thanks for linking up to Link Party Palooza!
Ginger Wroot says
March 29, 2016 at 7:54 pmI pinned this one–looks sooo lish! Thanks, and hope your Easter was a lovely day!
–G
Amy says
April 30, 2017 at 4:26 pmThis carrot cake swirled cream cheese bar recipe jumped out and grabbed me. I love carrot cake, and cream cheese anything is delicious. Thank you for sharing at Happiness is Homemade link party. I Shared and Pinned this recipe.
Lisa says
May 5, 2017 at 12:39 pmOh these look yummy and easy to make! I am going to make these for a graduation party I am hosting next month. Thank you for sharing!
Cheers,
Lisa at Dreams and Caffeine
Marilyn Lesniak says
May 6, 2017 at 9:36 amThank you for sharing your wonderful post at #OverTheMoon. I look forward to what you will share next week! Like someone in person today! We hope you’ll come back again next Sunday when we open our doors at 6:00 PM EST. Pinned and tweeted!
Miz Helen says
May 9, 2017 at 12:55 pmYour Carrot Cake Cream Cheese Bars are fantastic! Hope you are having a great day and thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday!
Come Back Soon,
Miz Helen