Carrot Cookies

If you love carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, I am sure you will love these cookies. They are filled with yummy ingredients and flavors – shredded carrot, chopped pecans, orange and ginger – then finished off with a generous portion of cream cheese frosting.

The recipe makes 24 big cookies, a perfect finger-food alternative to carrot cake.


Carrot Cookies

Servings 24

Ingredients

COOKIE INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1/2 tsp. orange extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. ginger
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 1/2 cups finely grated carrot (use the small holes on a grater)

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING INGREDIENTS

  • 1/4 cup butter, at room temperature
  • 4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
  • 8 oz. powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • orange and green food coloring optional for decorating

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter, shortening and sugars. Beat well to combine, then scrape down the sides of the bowl and continue mixing until light and fluffy about 4 minutes.
  • Add the vanilla and orange extracts.
  • In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, ginger and salt.
  • On low speed, gradually add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.
  • Stir in the carrots and pecans.
  • Scoop the cookies out onto parchment lined baking sheets.
  • Bake for 18 minutes or until the cookies are set and slightly browned.
  • Cool completely before frosting.
  • While the cookies are cooling, make the cream cheese frosting.
  • In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the butter and cream cheese. Beat well.
  • Add the vanilla extract.
  • With the mixer on low speed, gradually add the powdered sugar until fully combined.
  • Increase the speed of the mixer to medium and beat for a few more minutes until the frosting is light and fluffy.
  • Frost the cooled cookies with the icing. If desired, color some of the frosting green and orange and pipe carrot decorations on top. Or, garnish with a toasted pecan half.
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