Description
These No Sugar Cottage Cheese Carrot Cake Bars are a wholesome and delicious treat, perfect for a healthy snack or dessert. Made with ripe bananas, cottage cheese, grated carrots, and oat flour, these bars are naturally sweetened and packed with flavor and nutrients. They are easy to prepare, baked to perfection, and cut into convenient squares for on-the-go enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Wet Ingredients
- 2 large ripe bananas
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Dry Ingredients
- 1 cup finely grated carrots
- 1 ½ cups oat flour
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line an 8×8 inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy removal of the bars.
- Mash Bananas: In a large bowl, mash the ripe bananas using a fork or potato masher until they are smooth and free of large lumps.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: Add the eggs, cottage cheese, and vanilla extract to the mashed bananas. Whisk everything together until the mixture is fully combined and smooth.
- Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Stir in the finely grated carrots along with the oat flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Mix thoroughly until a thick batter forms with all ingredients evenly distributed.
- Prepare for Baking: Spread the thick batter evenly into the prepared baking pan, smoothing out the top with a spatula for uniform thickness.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 28 minutes. Check doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean or with just a few crumbs.
- Cool and Slice: Allow the baked bars to cool completely in the pan to firm up. Once cooled, lift the parchment paper to remove the block and slice into 9 square bars for serving.
Notes
- Ensure bananas are ripe for optimal natural sweetness and moisture.
- Oat flour can be substituted with whole wheat flour if oat flour is unavailable, but it may affect texture.
- For a dairy-free version, replace cottage cheese with a plant-based yogurt or silken tofu.
- Store bars in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Freezing the bars is possible; thaw before serving.
