Soft and spiced carrot cake cookies have all the flavors of carrot cake with cream cheese frosting over top!
Course Dessert
Keyword carrot cake
Prep Time 20 minutesminutes
Cook Time 10 minutesminutes
Total Time 30 minutesminutes
Servings 20cookies
Author katiebirdbakes.com
Ingredients
For the Cookies:
1 1/4cupsall-purpose flour(measured via spoon and level method)
1/2teaspoonbaking soda
1/4teaspoonsalt
1teaspooncinnamon
1/4teaspoonnutmeg
Generous pinch of ground ginger
1/2cupunsalted buttersoftened to room temperature
1/3cupgranulated sugar
1/3cuppacked brown sugar
1large eggroom temperature preferable
1teaspoonvanilla extract
1cupfinely grated carrotsfrom about 1 large carrot*
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
4ouncescream cheesecold
1/4cupunsalted buttersoftened to room temperature
1cuppowdered sugar
1/2teaspoonvanilla extract
Pinchsalt
Extra grated carrots and chopped walnuts, for decoration (optional)
Instructions
For the Cookies:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line 2 or 3 baking sheets (depending on size) with parchment paper, and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. Set aside.
In a large bowl using a stand mixer with the paddle attachment, or a hand mixer, beat the butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add in the egg and vanilla, and beat on medium speed until fully combined and smooth.
Dump the dry ingredients into the bowl with the wet ingredients and beat on low speed just until well-combined and no lumps remain.
Fold in the grated carrots with a spatula until evenly distributed.
Drop cookie dough by rounded tablespoons onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving at least 2 inches in between cookies as they will spread. Bake for 11-13 minutes, until outer edges are browned.
Let cookies cool in pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove to a plate to cool completely while you prepare the frosting.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a large bowl using a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, or a hand mixer, beat cream cheese and butter at high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt, and beat at medium to high speed until fully combined and light.
Spread cooled cookies with cream cheese frosting. There should be enough frosting for a thick layer on each cookie.
Decorate the tops of cookies with additional grated carrots and chopped walnuts if desired. Serve!
Notes
Cookies will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.*I prefer to hand-grate the carrots using a box grater in order to get them as finely grated as possible. You can also grate them in a food processor with a grating blade.