Ingredients:
- 1 cup grated carrots
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup raisins or chopped nuts (optional)
- Cream Cheese Frosting (recipe below)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 oz (1/2 cup) cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
Preheat Oven:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
Prepare Carrots and Oats:
Grate the carrots and set them aside. In a food processor, pulse the rolled oats until they resemble coarse flour.
Combine Dry Ingredients:
In a bowl, whisk together the flour, ground oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt.
Cream Butter and Sugars:
In a large bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
Add Wet Ingredients:
Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until well combined.
Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures:
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing until just combined.
Fold in the grated carrots and raisins or nuts if using.
Scoop and Bake:
Drop rounded tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheets, leaving space between each cookie. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
Cool:
Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheets for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Prepare Cream Cheese Frosting:
In a separate bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Frost Cookies:
Once the cookies are completely cool, spread a dollop of cream cheese frosting on top of each cookie.
Enjoy:
Allow the frosting to set, and then enjoy your delicious Carrot Cake Cookies!
These cookies are a delightful treat with the flavors of carrot cake in a convenient, handheld form.