Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars

I didn't crave sweets most of my pregnancy with Owen, but it was the first thing I ate after delivering him.  I was craving the sugar.  It's like I was making up for the time I went without (ok, with less of) it.  

I made dinner for a friend that just had a baby and made these Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars for dessert.  I'm hoping she is craving sweets post-partum just as much as I did, because these bars are definitely sweet, and boy are they rich.

If you are looking for a way to please both your Carrot Cake lovers and Cheesecake fans this Easter, I think these are your ticket (which means less work for you)!
 

 

These are a piece of cake to make. Here's what you need....

Beat the cake mix, one egg, and stick of butter (softened)

Until it looks like this...

 

Press the dough into a greased 9 x 13 in. pan.

Then beat two 8 oz packages of cream cheese together until smooth.  Add two eggs, 1/2 c. sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla and beat until combined.  

 Spread the cream cheese mixture over the bar mixture in the pan.

 

Bake at 350 for about 30-40 minutes. 

 Enjoy! And Happy Easter!

Carrot Cake Cheesecake Bars
adapted from Sandra Lee's Red Velvet Cheesecake Bars


For the Carrot Cake Bar:
1 box Betty Crocker Carrot Cake Mix
1 egg
1 stick butter, soft

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Beat the cake mix, egg, and butter until it turns into a thick dough.  Press dough into a greased 9 x 13 inch pan.  Set aside while you make the cheesecake layer.

Cheesecake Layer:
16 oz. cream cheese, soft
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla

1.  In a medium sized bowl beat the cream cheese until smooth.  Add sugar, eggs, and vanilla and continue beating until creamy and smooth.

2. Pour the cheesecake layer over the carrot cake bar in the pan.  Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the edges start to pull away from the pan.  Let cool completely. 

3. Cut into squares and top each square with a dollop of Betty Crocker's Rich and Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting.  I used a plastic sandwich bag and cut a hole in one of the corners to pipe my frosting. You  will only need about a 1/2 cup of frosting.