Description
Delightful carrot cake cookies blend classic dessert flavors into a portable treat. Spiced dough with cream cheese frosting delivers rich comfort for sweet-seeking palates.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup shredded carrots
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
Sugars and Sweeteners:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
Spices and Add-ins:
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup raisins (optional)
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Heat oven to 350F (175C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper for optimal cookie release.
- Combine dry ingredients – flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg – in a medium mixing bowl, whisking thoroughly to distribute spices evenly.
- Cream butter and sugars in a large bowl until smooth and fluffy, creating a rich base for the cookies.
- Incorporate egg and vanilla extract into the butter mixture, mixing until fully integrated and creating a uniform texture.
- Gently fold dry ingredients into wet ingredients, stirring minimally to prevent overworking the dough and maintain a tender cookie consistency.
- Introduce shredded carrots, rolled oats, and optional mix-ins like raisins or chopped nuts, distributing ingredients evenly throughout the dough.
- Using a cookie scoop, drop rounded portions onto prepared baking sheet, ensuring adequate spacing between each cookie for proper spreading.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, watching for lightly golden edges as a sign of perfect doneness.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, allowing them to set and develop a crisp exterior while maintaining a soft interior.
Notes
- Swap out butter for coconut oil to make these cookies dairy-free and add a subtle tropical twist.
- Toast oats and nuts before adding to enhance their nutty flavor and create more depth in the cookie.
- Use whole wheat flour for a healthier version that adds more fiber and a slightly nuttier taste to the cookies.
- Grate carrots finely to ensure they distribute evenly and create a smoother, more consistent texture throughout the cookies.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Desserts, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 12
- Calories: 150 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 120 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg