If you love the cozy flavors of carrot cake but want a fun, handheld treat, this Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe is going to be your new best friend in the kitchen. Imagine all the warm spices, the natural sweetness of grated carrots, and hearty oats baked into soft, chewy cookies that effortlessly combine both comfort and a bit of indulgence. Whether you frost them with cream cheese frosting or enjoy them plain, these cookies offer a delightful twist on a classic dessert that’s perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe relies on simple, wholesome ingredients that come together beautifully to create cookies bursting with flavor and texture. Each ingredient serves a purpose, whether it’s adding moisture, spice, or crunch, making the baking experience straightforward and rewarding.
- Unsalted butter: Softened for creamy texture and rich flavor that forms the cookie base.
- Brown sugar: Provides deep sweetness and moistness, essential for that tender chew.
- Granulated sugar: Adds a touch of crispness and balance to the sweetness.
- Large eggs: Bind the ingredients and create structure.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor with warm, aromatic notes.
- All-purpose flour: The foundation that brings everything together.
- Baking soda: Leavens the cookies, helping them rise just enough.
- Salt: Amplifies the flavors and balances sweetness.
- Ground cinnamon: Infuses each bite with classic warmth and spice.
- Ground nutmeg: Adds subtle earthiness to round out the spices.
- Ground cloves: A pinch creates a cozy, aromatic depth.
- Old-fashioned oats: Provide chewy texture and nuttiness.
- Finely grated carrots: Bring natural sweetness, moisture, and gorgeous color.
- Chopped walnuts or pecans (optional): Offer a satisfying crunch and nutty flavor.
- Raisins (optional): Add bursts of chewy sweetness that complement the spices.
- Cream cheese frosting (optional): Perfect for sandwich cookies or drizzling, adding a luscious tangy finish.
How to Make Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe
Step 1: Prepare Your Oven and Pans
First things first, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. This ensures your cookies will bake evenly and slide off easily when they’re done.
Step 2: Cream the Butter and Sugars
In a large bowl, beat together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture becomes light, airy, and fluffy. This step is key to achieving a soft cookie texture that melts in your mouth.
Step 3: Add Eggs and Vanilla
Next, mix in the eggs and vanilla extract until everything is well combined. These ingredients contribute to the cookie’s structure and introduce rich flavor notes.
Step 4: Combine Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. This spice blend not only flavors your cookies but creates the signature warmth you crave in carrot cake.
Step 5: Mix Dry Ingredients with Wet
Gradually add the dry mixture into the wet mixture, stirring just until everything is combined. Overmixing can toughen the cookies, so aim for a gentle touch here.
Step 6: Stir in Oats, Carrots, and Add-ins
Fold in the old-fashioned oats, finely grated carrots, and if you’re using them, the chopped walnuts or pecans and raisins. These ingredients bring fantastic texture and bursts of flavor that make these cookies uniquely delightful.
Step 7: Portion and Bake
Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto your prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow for spreading. Bake for 12 to 14 minutes until the edges turn golden and the centers look set but still soft.
Step 8: Cool and Optional Frosting
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. For an extra-special treat, frost with cream cheese frosting or sandwich two cookies with a generous layer of frosting in between.
How to Serve Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe
Garnishes
Serving these cookies with a light drizzle of cream cheese frosting or a sprinkle of powdered sugar instantly elevates their look and taste, making them perfect for guests or celebrations.
Side Dishes
Pair these cookies with a warm cup of chai tea or spiced coffee to complement the spices in the cookie. They also go wonderfully alongside a fresh fruit salad for a balanced dessert option.
Creative Ways to Present
For a charming twist, create carrot cake cookie sandwiches filled with cream cheese frosting, dust them lightly with cinnamon, or stack them on a rustic wooden platter adorned with fresh carrot tops and nuts for a beautiful presentation.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store your carrot cake cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days. Keeping them sealed ensures they stay soft and flavorful without drying out.
Freezing
You can freeze baked cookies or dough balls. Place them in a freezer-safe container or bag, separating layers with parchment paper. Frozen dough can be baked fresh when needed, and cookies freeze well for up to two months.
Reheating
Warm refrigerated or frozen cookies slightly in the microwave for about 15 seconds or in a low oven to bring back their softness and enhance the comforting aroma before serving.
FAQs
Can I use shredded carrots instead of finely grated carrots?
Finely grating the carrots is important for the best cookie texture; shredded carrots tend to be too large and can affect how the cookies hold together and bake.
Are the nuts and raisins necessary in this Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe?
These add-ins are entirely optional. They provide extra texture and flavor, but leaving them out still results in wonderfully tasty cookies.
How long do these cookies stay fresh?
Stored properly in an airtight container, they remain soft and delicious for up to four days at room temperature and longer if refrigerated.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free?
Yes! Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free blend suitable for baking. Just be mindful that texture may vary slightly depending on the blend.
What is the best way to frost carrot cake cookies?
Cream cheese frosting is a classic choice. You can spread it on top for a drizzle effect or sandwich two cookies together for a delightful bite-sized dessert.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a sweet treat that combines the nostalgic flavors of carrot cake with the ease of a cookie, this Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe is absolutely worth trying. It’s comforting, flavorful, and sure to become a staple in your baking repertoire. Don’t hesitate to pull out your baking sheet and whip up a batch — these cookies are made for sharing and savoring with friends and family!
Print
Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 34 minutes
- Yield: 24 cookies
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Delight in soft, flavorful Carrot Cake Cookies that combine the warm spices of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves with hearty oats and finely grated carrots. These cookies offer a delightful twist on traditional carrot cake, perfect for snacking or special occasions, and can be topped with optional cream cheese frosting for a creamy finish.
Ingredients
Cookie Dough
- 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
Optional Topping
- Cream cheese frosting (optional for sandwich cookies or drizzling)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper to ensure your cookies bake evenly and don’t stick.
- Cream Butter and Sugars: In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until the mixture is light and fluffy, creating a smooth base for the dough.
- Add Eggs and Vanilla: Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until everything is well combined, adding moisture and flavor to the dough.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves to evenly distribute the leavening and spices.
- Mix Dry and Wet Ingredients: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture and stir until just combined to avoid overmixing, which can toughen the cookies.
- Fold in Oats and Carrots: Stir in the old-fashioned oats, finely grated carrots, and if using, chopped nuts or raisins, to add texture and flavor.
- Portion the Dough: Scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart to allow room for spreading.
- Bake the Cookies: Bake in the preheated oven for 12–14 minutes or until the edges are golden and the centers are set but still soft.
- Cool the Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to firm up before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
- Optional Frosting: If desired, frost the cooled cookies with cream cheese frosting or create sandwich cookies by piping frosting between two cookies.
Notes
- Finely grate the carrots to ensure the cookies maintain a soft, tender texture.
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days to maintain freshness.
- For longer storage, refrigerate the cookies to extend their shelf life.
- To make carrot cake sandwich cookies, pipe cream cheese frosting between two completely cooled cookies for a delightful treat.
