Description
Indulgent carrot cake cookies blend classic dessert charm with portable cookie convenience. Warm spices and cream cheese frosting create irresistible comfort, beckoning you to savor each delightful bite of sweet, homemade goodness.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup finely grated carrots
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Spices and Leavening Agents:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Wet Ingredients and Extras:
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 ounces (113 grams) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Warm the kitchen oven to a moderate temperature of 350°F (175°C) and carefully arrange parchment paper across baking trays to prevent sticking.
- Create a harmonious dry mixture by whisking flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a medium mixing bowl until evenly combined.
- In a separate large bowl, vigorously cream butter with brown and granulated sugars until the mixture becomes airy and pale, then incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, blending thoroughly until smooth.
- Gently introduce the prepared dry ingredients into the butter mixture, stirring carefully to maintain a light texture, then fold in freshly grated carrots, rolled oats, and optional chopped nuts for additional depth and crunch.
- Using a spoon or cookie scoop, deposit rounded dollops of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, ensuring approximately two inches of separation between each cookie to allow proper spreading during baking.
- Transfer the trays to the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for golden-brown edges that indicate perfect doneness, then remove and allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Prepare the creamy frosting by whipping cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until achieving a silky, spreadable consistency.
- Once cookies have reached room temperature, generously spread or elegantly pipe the frosting across the surface, creating a delectable finishing touch to these delightful treats.
Notes
- Toast nuts beforehand to enhance their rich, nutty flavor and create a deeper, more complex taste profile in the cookies.
- Grate carrots finely to ensure even distribution and prevent large carrot chunks from disrupting the cookie’s texture.
- Use room temperature ingredients to help ingredients blend smoothly and create a more consistent cookie dough.
- Consider substituting some flour with whole wheat flour for added nutrition and a slightly heartier cookie texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24
- Calories: 170
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 24 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg