Carrot Cake Swirled Cream Cheese Bars

Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 40 minutes
Servings: 24

• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour, divided
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick Ground Cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon McCormick Ground Nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2/3 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs, divided
• 2 teaspoons McCormick Pure Vanilla Extract
• 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots
• 3 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Lemon Extract

1. Preheat oven to 325°F. Mix 1 cup each of flour and sugar, cinnamon, baking soda, nutmeg and salt in large bowl. Add oil, 2 eggs, vanilla extract and carrots; mix well. Spread 1/2 of the batter into greased and floured 13x9-inch baking pan. Reserve remaining batter. Set aside.
2. Beat cream cheese and remaining 1 cup sugar in another large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add milk, remaining 2 tablespoons flour and lemon extract; beat until well blended. Add remaining 2 eggs, 1 at a time, beating on low speed after each addition just until blended.
3. Drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture and reserved carrot cake batter, alternately, over carrot cake batter in pan. Cut through several times with knife for marble effect.
4. Bake 40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Source: McCormick Spice