Brown Butter Carrot Cake Blondies

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Carrot cake is one of my very favorite desserts & these Brown Butter Carrot Cake Blondies are my new favorite twist on the classic. There are a few things make these extra special – browned butter, freshly grated carrots, chopped walnuts and a vanilla bean cream cheese frosting. These bars are arguably my favorite dessert that I have ever developed and I know they will be on rotation for years to come!

Tips & Substitutions

  • Please make sure that you are using a 9x9 pan for these bars - I have not tested them in any other sized pan and cannot speak to how they will bake in anything other than a 9x9 pan. Linking the one that I use and love here!
  • The first step in this recipe is to brown the butter, which is a very simple process that will really elevate the flavor of the blondies. You want the butter to be cold to start, so remove the butter from the fridge right before browning. Cut the butter into even pieces and add to your pan over medium heat, stirring consistently for 5-8 minutes until the butter has browned. You will know it has browned when toasty brown milk solids form at the bottom of the pan (best to use a pan with a light colored bottom) - it will also smell INCREDIBLE. As soon as it has browned, remove it from the heat to ensure it doesn't burn.
  • After mixing the wet and dry ingredients, add in freshly grated carrots and chopped walnuts and mix just until combined - be sure to not over mix to ensure a light & fluffy texture. Bake for 22-25 minutes - do NOT over bake! 
  • Adding vanilla bean paste to the cream cheese frosting adds so much flavor, but if you don't have it on hand, vanilla extract will work great.
  • Wait until the blondies are fully cooled before topping with the frosting & chopped walnuts. Keep any leftovers stored in the fridge!

Brown Butter Carrot Cake Blondies

Carrot cake is one of my very favorite desserts & these Brown Butter Carrot Cake Blondies are my new favorite twist on the classic. There are a few things make these extra special - browned butter, freshly grated carrots, chopped walnuts and a vanilla bean cream cheese frosting.
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Blondies

– 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
– 1.5 cups brown sugar
– 1 egg
– 1 tbsp vanilla extract
– 1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
– 1 tsp cinnamon
– 1 tsp ground ginger
– 1/2 tsp nutmeg
– 1/2 tsp salt
– 1 cup carrots, peeled & grated
– 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Vanilla Bean Cream Cheese Frosting
– 6oz cream cheese, at room temperature
– 1/2 stick butter, at room temperature
– 1 cup powdered sugar
– 1 tbsp vanilla bean paste
– 3/4 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 and line a 9×9 pan with parchment paper & grease lightly with cooking spray
2. Brown your butter – remove 2 sticks about 20 minutes before you begin the process and cut into even pieces. In a large pan over medium heat, add butter and stir consistently for 5-7 minutes until the butter turns golden brown with toasty brown milk solids at the bottom of the pan. Immediately remove from heat
3. Whisk brown sugar, egg & vanilla extract together, then add brown butter and whisk until combined
4. In a large bowl, add flour, cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg and salt and mix to combine, then add in the brown sugar mixture and mix again . Add carrots and walnuts and mix until combined
5. Pour batter into 9×9 pan, spread into an even layer and bake for 22-25 minutes. Let it cool completely before frosting.
6. Beat cream cheese and butter in a stand mixer or hand mixer until smooth. Add 1/2 cup powdered sugar and beat, then add the second half and beat until smooth. Add vanilla bean paste and beat again.
7. Top the blondies with frosting & chopped walnuts – ENJOY!

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}

Recipes by Category

Hey There! I'm Brooke Welcome to my Kitchen

Hi there! My name is Brooke Nickelatti and I am a recipe developer, food photographer, and lover of nutrition science. I am a firm believer that a healthy lifestyle begins in the kitchen and it is my mission to help others learn how to prepare meals that are both delicious and nutritious in a simple, time, and cost-efficient manner.

Things Used in Recipe

9×9 Pan

Large Glass Prep Bowls

Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer