Grandma’s Carrot Yogurt Squares with Cream Cheese Frosting

by Lise Ode on October 12, 2026

These Carrot Yogurt Squares come straight from my grandmother’s handwritten recipe collection, with a little Mom Loves Baking makeover! I added cream cheese frosting and a cute little icing carrot to each square, turning her simple, old-fashioned bake into a treat that’s just as fun to serve as it is to eat.

If you love discovering vintage recipes, this one has a few surprises. Molasses gives the squares a rich flavor, vanilla yogurt adds a little sweetness, and lemon zest brings a bright touch. Keep reading for easy decorating tips and ways to make these squares your own, whether you prefer them frosted or simple like Grandma’s original. If you enjoy carrot cake squares with cream cheese frosting, this vintage version is a fun one to try, with molasses and lemon zest giving it a flavor all its own.

One serving of carrot yogurt squares with fork.

Why You Will Love Grandma’s Carrot Yogurt Squares

A handwritten family recipe – There’s something extra special about baking a recipe my grandmother saved in her own handwriting.

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Simple to mix – The batter comes together with a whisk and spoon, without an electric mixer.

An unexpected flavor combination – Carrots, molasses, vanilla yogurt, and lemon zest give these squares their own old-fashioned charm.

Easy to dress up – Cream cheese frosting and tiny piped carrots make a simple square cake look extra cute.

Flexible finishing touches – Use walnuts or pecans, leave out the nuts, or serve the squares without frosting.

What You Need

Ingredient Notes

Egg – Use one large egg at room temperature so it mixes easily with the other ingredients.

Carrots – Peel first, then finely grate them with a hand grater or food processor. Finely grated carrots blend into the batter better than thick shreds.

Molasses – Use regular baking molasses rather than blackstrap, which has a stronger, more bitter flavor.

Brown Sugar – Use packed dark brown sugar for extra sweetness and a deeper molasses flavor. This was my addition, so you can omit it if you prefer a less sweet version.

Vanilla Yogurt – Use sweetened vanilla yogurt as listed in the recipe. You’ll need 8 ounces; check the container size, since many individual yogurt cups are smaller.

Lemon Zest – Grate only the yellow part of the peel. The white layer underneath can taste bitter.

Nuts – Walnuts or pecans work well. You can also leave them out if you prefer squares without nuts.

Cream Cheese Frosting – Optional, but it adds a creamy finishing touch and makes the little carrot decorations possible. Use softened full-fat cream cheese and softened salted butter.

Gel Food Coloring – Orange and green gel colors are ideal for the carrot decorations because they add color without thinning the frosting.

Frosting carrot cake squares with cream cheese frosting.

How to Make Carrot Yogurt Squares

The full recipe is at the end of this post.

Start by greasing and flouring a 9-inch square baking pan. Whisk the dry ingredients and lemon zest together in one bowl, then stir the carrots, molasses, brown sugar, egg, and yogurt together in another.

Combine the wet and dry mixtures, stirring just until the flour is incorporated. Fold in the nuts, spread the batter in your prepared pan, and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean or with a few moist crumbs.

Let the cake cool completely before spreading on the cream cheese frosting. Reserve a little frosting to tint orange and green, lightly mark where you’ll cut the squares, and pipe a tiny carrot on each one. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Decorating carrot yogurt squares with orange icing carrots and green icing leaves.

Quick Tips

Grate the carrots finely – This helps them distribute evenly throughout the batter.

Avoid overmixing – Once you add the dry ingredients, stir just until combined.

Cool completely before frosting – A warm cake can soften the frosting and make the decorations slide.

Keep the frosting thick enough to pipe – If the decorating portions are too soft, stir in a little extra powdered sugar and refrigerate briefly.

Mark the squares before decorating – Lightly score the frosting so you can place a carrot in the center of each serving.

Use a zip-top bag if needed – Snip a tiny corner off the bag to pipe the carrots, then use a smaller opening for the green tops.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these the same as traditional carrot cake? These squares have carrots and an optional cream cheese frosting, but the molasses, vanilla yogurt, and lemon zest give them a different flavor from a typical cinnamon-spiced carrot cake.

Can I leave out the nuts? Yes! Simply omit the nuts if you prefer a smoother texture or need to avoid them.

Do I have to add the brown sugar? No. I added the brown sugar for extra sweetness, but you can leave it out for a version closer to my grandmother’s original recipe.

Can I serve these without frosting? Absolutely! Leave them plain or serve with a dollop of whipped topping, as suggested in the original recipe.

Do I need special decorating tools for the carrots? No! A piping bag with a small round tip works well, but you can also use a zip-top bag with a tiny corner snipped off.

Can I make these ahead of time? Yes! Make and frost the squares ahead, then keep them covered in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.

How should I store the frosted squares? Store them covered in the refrigerator because of the cream cheese frosting.

Can I cut these into carrot cake bars instead of squares? Yes! Cut the cake into rectangular bars instead of squares, and adjust the placement of your piped carrots to match.

My grandmother's recipe card in her handwriting.

More Recipes from My Grandmother’s Collection

I’m baking my way through my grandmother’s recipe collection and sharing these sweet treasures with you! Follow along on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook for my Grandmother’s Recipes series, with new videos every Monday and Thursday. You’ll find the recipes here on my blog so you can make them in your own kitchen, too.

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