Carrot Cake Squares with Cream Cheese Frosting

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-23 · Updated 2026-06-23

Moist, spiced carrot cake squares layered with tangy cream cheese frosting and topped with chopped walnuts for a delightful Easter dessert. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 70 minutes, layers all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 12, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup, packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 3 large eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups grated carrots
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 8 oz, softened cream cheese
• 1/4 cup, softened unsalted butter
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tbsp lemon juice

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg, and 1/2 tsp salt.
2. Step 2: In another bowl, beat 1 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, and 3/4 cup vegetable oil until well combined. Add 3 large eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition, then stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract.
3. Step 3: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Fold in 3 cups grated carrots and 1 cup chopped walnuts.
4. Step 4: Pour batter into a greased 9x13-inch baking pan and bake for 40-45 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool completely.
5. Step 5: For the frosting, beat together 8 oz softened cream cheese and 1/4 cup softened unsalted butter until smooth. Gradually add 2 cups powdered sugar and 1 tbsp lemon juice, beating until creamy and spreadable.
6. Step 6: Spread frosting evenly over cooled cake, cut into squares, and serve.