These Carrot Cake Cookies have all the flavors of your favorite carrot cake rolled into cookies. Soft, chewy, and sandwiched with a wonderful cream cheese frosting!
It has come to my attention that I don’t have nearly enough carrot cake recipes in my catalog. I’m working on it. Starting with these Carrot Cake Cookies! Not the same thing, but a fun twist on a classic, equally delicious, and individual servings. So yay!
These easy carrot cake cookies are soft and tender, with just the right amount of sweetness. They are definitely fantastic on their own, but taken up several notches with a sweet cream cheese frosting!
Tips for the best carrot cake cookies
- Use a cookie scoop. This ensures the cookies are all uniform in size and bake in the same amount of time. Plus, it’s easier!
- Knead and roll the cookie balls tightly. This will ensure they don’t crumble after baking and cooling.
- Line your baking sheets with parchment paper. Your cookies will stick otherwise. Plus, easier clean up!
- Flatten the Cookies. These cookies don’t spread or flatten much on their own, so you need to press down on them. Spray the back of your hand (or bottom of a glass) with nonstick spray and press gently on the cookie dough balls.
Can I freeze these cookies?
Yep! You can freeze these cookies frosted or unfrosted.
- Let the cookies completely cool, then place them (frosted or unfrosted) on a baking sheet, leaving space in-between.
- Transfer baking sheet to the freezer and freeze the cookies until solid.
- Wrap each cookie individually in plastic wrap and add to a freezer bag and seal.
- When ready to serve, grab however many cookies you want from the freezer bag, and remove the plastic wrap (to avoid condensation.)
- Allow the cookies to thaw on the counter for about 20 minutes.
Yes, these cookies require a little more work than the average cookie. But we’re talking carrot cake in cookie form. Worth it, wouldn’t you say?
Other carrot cake recipes you might like!
Watch the video for carrot cake cookies!
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Carrot Cake Cookies
Ingredients
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
- 2 ounces unsalted butter, softened
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
For the Cookies
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg yolk
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 3/4 cup packed, finely grated carrots
- 1/3 cup raisins
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper, set aside.
- For the filling, beat cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until well-combined and smooth. Mix in vanilla. Gradually beat in confectioner’s sugar until totally incorporated. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Make the cookies: In a large bowl, whisk together butter, both sugars, and egg yolk. Add in the flour and salt; stir until thoroughly combined.
- Mix in the oats, carrots, and raisins.
- Form mixture into tight tablespoon balls, squeezing/molding just a few times (this will help prevent crumbling after baking and cooling.) Drop, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheets. (You should have 20 balls.) Spray the bottom of your hand or a glass and flatten the cookies. (Dough will be sticky.)
- Bake until the edges are golden, rotating baking sheets halfway through, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
- Remove frosting from refrigerator until soft enough to spread. Flip one of each cookie pair over, bottom side up. Dollop out the cream cheese filling over cookie. Top with remaining cookie and press gently to spread the filling to the edges.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Before spreading with the frosting, the cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
- The filling can be made ahead and chilled for up to three days.
- After cooked and assembled, these are best when served within a couple hours.
Nutrition
originally from Martha Stewart
Karey says
I made these and made some modifications. I doubled the recipe, cut back on the carrots by 1/2 cup and added coconut. I also added some cinnamon,nutmeg, vanilla, and a tsp. soda. I made a frosting that I drizzled on top!!
John Mahlum says
how abouut a sugar free for us diabetic
Stacy says
I’m hosting a frozen cookie dough exchange party, can the dough and filling both be frozen? Or would it be better to bake, build and freeze?
Alice Summa says
These cookies were a hit! What could I add to make them turn out a little thicker/cake like?
Cindy says
I added a bit more flour, more raisins. I’m wondering if it’s the butter measurement, cold verses melted.
Cindy says
But they are yummy.
Carol Elvestad says
I just made these. They are TASTY!!! Thanks for the recipe!
daniel leclear says
could you use chocolate chips instead of rasins?
Amy @Belly Full says
Sure
Margie says
Do you think it would hurt the recipe outcome to plump the raisins first? The cookies look great!
Amy @Belly Full says
I think that would be fine!
Cindy Eksuzian says
Your blog is down home beautiful. Thanks for sharing your carrot cake cookie recipe. It looks AbFab. Merry Christmas! Cindy
Amy says
Greetings, Cindy – thank you so much for the kind words and stopping by. Merry Christmas to you too!
Nicole says
Can you pleeeease note at the top of the directions that the recipe makes 18 INDIVIDUAL cookies, not double cookies as the picture implies.
Amy says
Fixed! Sorry Nicole…I can feel your frustration, obviously not ending up with the amount of cookies you thought you would. I hope the ones you did have were delicious.
Nicole says
These cookies were beyond popular! I made them for my son’s birthday at pre-school, both of his teachers asked for the recipe. I made another batch for hubby to take to work… apparently they disappeared in 2 mins flat :)
Amy says
Okay. Well, whew! They didn’t last long around here either…
Eliana says
Oh good gosh! These look so incredible. I cold seriously devour an entire batch of them right now. Love them!!!!
Annapet says
Carrots make these cookies super healthy ;-). I love this!
Stephanie says
You are such a great mother! I would be the SAME WAY if I were in your shoes. Makeup? Forget it! Hair? No thanks! But, the important part is that you tried, and I bet Haley did great…all thanks to you!
Oh, and these cookies look good too. :)
Amy says
Thanks, Stephanie :D I’ll be more prepared next year…bring it on!
Sasha @ The Procrastobaker says
yummm, im such a carrot cake fan, the idea of having it in little portable cookie form is a wonderful but entirely dangerous idea! :) lovely recipe, they look irresistibly scrumptious
Elena (running in heels after child) says
I have made a version of these cookies- yum- they are so good.
I will have to try this recipe.
Rivki Locker (Ordinary Blogger) says
Cookies definitely trump wine. Every time. Especially ones as pretty as these!
Joanne says
Oh man your week sounds crazier than a typical med school week! These cookies really are the perfect cure, though. I plan on making them whenever I feel stressed from here on out. So that would be…at least daily.
Katie says
I always prefer sweets over booze…:) These look incredibly delicious!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
Your version looks terrific!
Nina says
Amy, great post….these are gorgeous! Wow. Carrot cake is one of my all time faves….will definitely be making these soon. ..they look incredible!
Sippitysup says
These”cooked” are beautiful, if only that had little ringlets for hair… GREG
Amy says
They are a pretty looking cookie, no? It’s the orange. Or maybe the filling oozing out, begging to be eaten. GAH, those ringlets. Seriously…it’s the first time (and possibly the last) that I actually wished my kids inherited my curls and not Paul’s straight hair.
krysta says
cookies and carrot cake combined? *brain exploded*
Amy says
Right?! :D
Sandi Benoit says
One of my biggest weakness’s is carrot cake, (plus a few others!) I feel your pain. Kyleah is dance/jazz. 2 days a week. Just had her 4 hour recital! Thank God , Faith is good with hair. 2 separate “recital” costumes (grandma paid) plus “hair jewelry”…Did I mention she’s in soccer, that practices 3 days a week, with a game 1 day a week. (along with her brother) Least we forget, Girl Scouts!!! John just rescheduled his “life” to go to this taste testing tomorrow and it got cancelled at the last minute, to July 13, and he don’t know if he can make it. He’s my driver, I can’t drive longer than 5 miles, with my knees…I do feel your pain!!!
Amy says
Isn’t it nuts? A 4-hr recital and the little ones are expected to last until 9:30pm to join in the finale. And yet, they get through it don’t they? Better than the parents! In the end, Haley shined and I was so beyond proud of her. I did reconsider having her be a part of it next year, but when I mentioned it to her, I got that deer-in-headlights look, as if her head was going to spin. So I’ll endure it again. And take valium.
Ethan says
I know you just wrote about a bunch of stuff that makes you super mom running around ragged, but I couldn’t get the image of these cookies out of my mind while reading. Slightly guilt-free carrot cake cookies…YES!
Amy says
It’s okay. They were a diversion for me, too. And now I’m thinking of apple pie cookies for my next mommy meltdown ;-)
Jude says
It’s a modern take on ‘Calgon, take me away’, but with carrot cake cookies doing the trick! Yum.
Amy says
Hee heeee. Exactly! And so much better than a hot bath. Gosh, imagine these and a hot bath. Bliss.
Andrea says
There’s no leavening? As for the dance recital, I’m glad I have a boy! There the question is, “Mama, how do I make my hair look messy? I don’t know what you mean by ‘tousled’?” Or, on my being barefoot on a cold day recently: “Did you polish your toes? They look purple to me.”
Amy says
Remember, I have one of those too. Trevor’s already asking “when he can dance?” I can’t handle it. Not him doing dance, per se…more having to deal with BOTH of them in the recital. Although, I certainly wouldn’t have the problems with his hair. Nope. He’s doing soccer!
PJ says
This story makes me laugh! HARD!!
Amy says
Hi PJ – Ha! Well, I’m glad it can bring joy to others ;-) I’m able to laugh about it now…since the migraine has disappeared. And I’m on my next batch of cookies :D
Heather | Farmgirl Gourmet says
I swear I think I can taste these cookies by looking at the photo. YUM! Totally making these. I have a bumper crop of carrots in the garden and this is the ticket.
YUM!
Heather
Amy says
Heather, I’m jealous you have a garden big enough to harvest carrots! That’s my goal next year…carrots and leeks, here I come.
DessertForTwo says
How perfect! If I had a week like yours, I think I would need cookies AND a glass of wine :)
Amy says
Right!? Yes, I’m glad it’s behind me.