Description
These No Sugar Cottage Cheese Carrot Cake Bars are a healthy, moist, and flavorful snack or dessert option that uses natural sweetness from applesauce and carrots. Packed with protein from cottage cheese and wholesome oat flour, they’re a perfect guilt-free treat for any time of day.
Ingredients
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups grated carrots
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp baking soda
Optional
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Blend Wet Ingredients: In a blender, combine the cottage cheese, unsweetened applesauce, and eggs, blending until the mixture is smooth and well incorporated. Transfer this mixture into a mixing bowl.
- Add Carrots: Stir the grated carrots into the blended wet ingredients until evenly distributed.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Add the oat flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and baking soda to the wet mixture. Gently mix until just combined to avoid overworking the batter.
- Fold in Walnuts: If desired, fold in the chopped walnuts evenly throughout the batter for added texture and flavor.
- Bake the Bars: Pour the batter into the prepared baking pan, spreading it evenly. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool and Slice: Let the bars cool completely in the pan before lifting them out using the parchment paper edges. Slice into 9 even bars and serve.
Notes
- If you don’t have oat flour, you can make your own by grinding oats in a food processor or blender until fine.
- For a nut-free version, omit the walnuts or substitute with seeds like pumpkin or sunflower seeds.
- These bars can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- For extra moisture, you can add a tablespoon of melted coconut oil or olive oil.
- Ensure carrots are finely grated to make the texture smoother in the bars.
- These bars are naturally sweetened with applesauce and carrots, so no additional sugar is needed.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
