It’s a special day here on Inspired by Charm. Fall Cookie Week (FCW) has returned for its fifth consecutive year. Grab a whisk and don your stretchy pants, it’s time to bake. We’re kicking off the week with Frosted Carrot Cake Cookies.
Now, before we get into the recipe, I have an exciting announcement about this year’s Fall Cookie Week. My friend and fellow blogger, Julie Blanner will be joining the baking fun. For the next six days, each of us will be sharing a new cookie recipe. That means, by the end of this week, you will have twelve new and delicious cookie recipes inspired by the season. And to make sure you don’t miss a thing, I will be linking to Julie’s recipe at the end of each of my FCW posts.
As in years past, you are encouraged to join in the fun. If you make one of this year’s recipes (or even one from a previous year), we’d love to see it. Post a picture on Instagram using the hashtag #FallCookieWeek. It’s always exciting when folks use the recipes we share.
Is FCW new to you? Be sure to visit all of the past recipes here: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012.
Okay, with those important details taken care of, let’s get on with today’s recipe: Frosted Carrot Cake Cookies.
How to Make Frosted Carrot Cake Cookies:
Some people might think of carrot cake as a spring treat, but with spices like cinnamon and ginger, plus the opportunity to use farm-fresh carrots, I’m proclaiming it to be ideal for fall. And since our focus this week is cookies, it only makes sense to turn this beloved cake into a frosted, soft cookie.
Drop cookies like these always seem to be among my FCW favorites. (Do you remember my Brown Sugar Pecan Cookies and the Frosted Pumpkin Cookies I made?) Eating this kind of cookie is almost like having a cupcake. Topped with a mound of frosting, it doesn’t get much better.
These bad boys are living up to my expectations. Grated fresh carrots are mixed up with oats, fall spices, and pecans to create a super flavorful and soft cookie.
I love the flavor of the pecans in this recipe, so make sure to include them. I chopped mine up until they were as fine as cornmeal because I don’t like bits of nuts in my cookies. Of course, if you prefer a crunch, just use finely chopped pieces.
Let’s make some Frosted Carrot Cake Cookies!
No matter how you chop the pecans, I think you’re going to be crazy about these cookies. Let’s get baking!
Makes about 3 dozen
Here's what you will need:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 cup grated carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
Cream Cheese Frosting
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 cups confectioner's sugar
Begin by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine butter, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Beat at medium speed until creamy, scraping the bowl when necessary. Then beat in the eggs, orange zest, and vanilla.
Next, mix in flour. Then, stir in the oats, carrots, and pecans until just combined.
Drop the dough by rounded tablespoons on to a greased or parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 13-15 minutes or until the edges of the cookies are lightly browned. Cool for 2 minutes on the baking sheet; then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
In the meantime, prepare the frosting. Begin by beating together butter, cream cheese, salt, and vanilla until smooth. Then, add the confectioner's sugar one cup at a time, beating in between, until smooth and creamy.
Once the cookies are cooled, frost with about 1-2 tablespoons of frosting.
Print
I adore cream cheese frosting. Paired with carrot cake, it’s classic and delicious.
You can almost taste them just by looking at them, can’t you?
For another cookie recipe, head on over to Julie Blanner’s blog. She’s sharing these Oatmeal Brickle Cookies. Don’t they look awesome? I’m dying to try one. You can get her recipe HERE.
I’ll meet you back here tomorrow for more deliciousness. Happy Fall Cookie Week, friends!
Love
These look delicious. But, can I gild the lily by tinting the frosting orange and covering the cookies with Candy Corn and Candy Pumpkins?
That sounds like a fabulous idea! Go for it. 🙂
xo Michael
I sure love this blog!
Does the frosting ever harden enough to stack the cookies? I would like to take some in to work and a smaller dish is less conspicuous (I can’t bake them for the whole place!)
Carol,
The frosting does get a “layer”, however it doesn’t harden completely. So, if you do stack them, the frosting will dent. I don’t think it would be a disaster, but they won’t look “as nice”.
xo Michael
these look and sound awesome! Hubby’s favorite cake is Carrot & his favorite cookie is Oatmeal…. so i think this one is going to be a no-brainer. Can’t wait to try these!
Hello, Michael. These cookies look so tasty. Thank you for the recipe and have a great week. Cheers, Ardith
It’s perfectly acceptable to call these breakfast, right? These look delicious! Happy Monday!