Carrot Cake Cookies (Printable)
Soft spiced cookies with shredded carrots, warm spices, and cream cheese frosting ready in 32 minutes.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Dry Ingredients
01 - 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
03 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
04 - 1/2 tsp baking soda
05 - 1/4 tsp salt
→ Wet Ingredients
06 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
08 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
09 - 1 large egg
10 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Add-Ins
11 - 1 cup finely grated carrots (about 2 medium carrots, peeled)
12 - 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
13 - 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
14 - 1/3 cup raisins (optional)
→ Cream Cheese Frosting
15 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
16 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
17 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
18 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - Whisk together flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Set aside.
03 - Beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla extract; mix until combined.
04 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, mixing just until incorporated.
05 - Fold in grated carrots, oats, and, if using, nuts and raisins.
06 - Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing about 2 inches apart.
07 - Bake for 11-13 minutes or until edges are set and tops look dry. Cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
08 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla; beat until fluffy.
09 - Spread or pipe a dollop of frosting onto each completely cooled cookie. Optionally, sprinkle with extra chopped nuts.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They capture everything magical about carrot cake but bake in half the time
- The cream cheese frosting makes them feel like a special occasion even on a Tuesday
02 -
- These cookies must cool completely before frosting or the frosting will melt right off
- Grating your own carrots instead of buying pre-grated makes a noticeable difference in texture
03 -
- Use the finest grating side of your box grater for the smoothest texture
- Room temperature ingredients mix together so much more easily