If you love carrot cake, you’re going to adore these Carrot Cake Cookies! Imagine all the delicious flavors of a classic carrot cake – sweet carrots, warm spices, and a hint of vanilla – but in the form of a soft, chewy cookie. Plus, with a layer of creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting sandwiched between them, each bite is simply irresistible.

I created these cookies as a fun twist on the traditional cake, and they’ve quickly become a favorite treat in our household. Perfect for Easter, fall gatherings, or any time you're craving a cozy, spiced dessert, these cookies are sure to become a hit with friends and family.

Why You’ll Love These Carrot Cake Cookies

These Carrot Cake Cookies bring all the best parts of carrot cake into a convenient, handheld treat. Here’s why they’re bound to become your new favorite dessert:

They’re soft and chewy, with the perfect amount of warmth from spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Each bite tastes just like a mini carrot cake, but in cookie form!

These cookies are packed with texture. Shredded carrots, crunchy walnuts, and sweet raisins add a delightful variety, making each cookie unique and flavorful.

The cream cheese frosting is pure heaven. It’s rich, tangy, and adds just the right amount of sweetness to balance the spiced cookies. You can sandwich it between two cookies for a classic whoopie pie vibe or spread it on top for a simpler, one-layer treat.

Finally, they’re easy to make. No need for multiple cake pans or worrying about even layers – just mix, bake, and frost!

Ingredients Notes

Creating these Carrot Cake Cookies is simple and requires only a few basic ingredients. Let’s take a look at what you’ll need:

Carrots: Freshly grated carrots add moisture, sweetness, and a bit of color to these cookies. Avoid pre-shredded carrots, as they’re often too dry and won’t blend well into the batter.
Flour: All-purpose flour gives these cookies structure without making them too dense. If you want a slightly healthier option, you can substitute half of it with whole wheat flour.
Spices: Cinnamon and nutmeg are classic for carrot cake, adding a warm, comforting flavor. Feel free to add a dash of ginger or cloves for even more spice.
Brown Sugar and Granulated Sugar: A mix of sugars adds sweetness and keeps the cookies soft. The brown sugar also brings a touch of caramel-like flavor, enhancing the overall taste.
Butter: Softened butter gives the cookies their richness and chewy texture. Use unsalted butter to control the salt level, or reduce added salt if you’re using salted butter.
Egg: The egg helps bind the ingredients and gives the cookies a soft, cakey texture.
Mix-ins (Optional): Chopped walnuts and raisins add texture and extra flavor to these cookies. You can omit them if you prefer, but they’re a great way to make the cookies taste even more like traditional carrot cake.

For the Cream Cheese Frosting, you’ll need cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a touch of vanilla extract. This classic frosting is the perfect companion to the spiced cookies.

How To Make Carrot Cake Cookies

Let’s walk through the steps to create these delicious Carrot Cake Cookies.

Prep and Preheat: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This helps ensure even distribution of the spices.
Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, cream together the softened butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Add the egg and vanilla extract, beating until smooth. Stir in the grated carrots.
Add Dry to Wet: Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring just until combined. If you’re adding walnuts or raisins, fold them in gently.
Scoop and Bake: Use a cookie scoop or spoon to drop heaping tablespoons of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the centers are set. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting: While the cookies cool, beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy.
Assemble the Cookies: Once the cookies are completely cool, spread or pipe a generous dollop of frosting on the bottom of one cookie, then sandwich it with another cookie. Alternatively, you can spread the frosting on top of each cookie.

In about 30 minutes, you’ll have a batch of soft, delicious Carrot Cake Cookies ready to enjoy! Each cookie sandwich is like a mini carrot cake – perfect for any occasion.

Storage Options

These Carrot Cake Cookies store well, so you can enjoy them over a few days or freeze them for later.

Refrigerator: Store the assembled cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. The frosting will stay fresh and keep the cookies soft.
Freezer: Freeze unfrosted cookies in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer them to a freezer bag once frozen. They’ll last up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature, then frost when ready to serve.
Room Temperature: If you’re serving them the same day, they can be kept at room temperature for a few hours. However, if they’re filled with cream cheese frosting, they should be refrigerated for longer storage.

Variations and Substitutions

This Carrot Cake Cookie recipe is wonderfully flexible. Here are some fun ways to make it your own:

Gluten-Free: Substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free baking blend to make these cookies gluten-free. Be sure the blend is meant for 1:1 substitution to ensure a good texture.
Dairy-Free: Use a plant-based butter and dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan option. Coconut oil can also be used, though the texture will be slightly different.
Add Coconut: For a tropical twist, add ¼ cup of shredded coconut to the batter. It pairs beautifully with the carrot and spices.
Golden Raisins or Currants: Swap regular raisins for golden raisins or currants for a slightly different taste and texture. These add a subtle sweetness that complements the other flavors.
Spiced Cream Cheese Frosting: For an extra layer of warmth, add a pinch of cinnamon to the cream cheese frosting. This enhances the spiced flavor in the cookies and brings it all together.

Conclousion

With these easy-to-follow steps and variations, you’ll have a batch of Carrot Cake Cookies that’s perfectly customized to your taste. Enjoy these sweet, spiced treats with a cup of tea or coffee, or share them with friends and family – they’re sure to be a hit!