The Bite-sized, Cookie Version of Carrot Cake

Carrot cake cookies are chewy, oatmeal-based cookies topped with a swirl of cream cheese frosting. They taste like a slice of carrot cake, but are so much easier to make!

Ingredients
Cookies
1 cup (226 g) unsalted butter softened
1 cup (200 g) light brown sugar packed
½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
2 large eggs room temperature preferred
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 ¾ cup (215 g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon salt
3 cups (295 g) old-fashioned oats
1 cup (120 g) grated/shredded carrots
¾ cup (120 g) chopped walnuts or pecans
½-1 cup (80-160 g) raisins optional depending on preference
Frosting
¾ cup (170 g) salted butter softened
12 oz (340 g) cream cheese softened
4 ½ cups (565 g) powdered sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 Tablespoons corn starch (this helps the frosting to maintain its shape - it's less likely to make a mess in your hands this way!)

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Instructions
00:00 Introduction
00:20 Preheat oven to 350F (175C).
01:33 In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and sugars and use an electric mixer (or a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment) and beat until creamy, light, and fluffy (about 1-2 minutes).
02:40 Add eggs and vanilla extract and stir well. Pause occasionally to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl.
03:33 In a separate, medium-sized mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt.
04:09 Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet, pausing periodically to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula.
04:23 Stir in oats until completely combined.
04:57 Add carrots and walnuts/pecans (and raisins, if using).
05:47 Drop cookies by 2-Tablespoon-sized scoops (43g) onto parchment paper-lined cookie sheet, spacing cookies at least 2" (5cm) apart. For more uniform cookies, roll the dough into a smooth ball between your palms (dough is sticky!). Bake 11-12 minutes on 350F (177C). Cookies may appear slightly underbaked at their centers still.
06:58 Allow cookies to cool completely on baking tray before decorating with icing.
For Frosting
07:14 Combine butter and cream cheese in a large mixing bowl (or bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment) and beat until smooth and creamy,.
08:00 Gradually add powdered sugar, about half a cup at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.
08:30 Add corn starch and stir.
08:47 Stir in vanilla extract.
09:03 Spread frosting onto cookies or transfer frosting into a piping bag fitted with a Ateco 846 tip and pipe on top of cooled cookies.

Notes
Carrots
I recommend peeling carrots before grating, it will make the carrots look nicer. To grate your carrots you may just use a box grater. My preferred method is to use the "shred" blade on my food processor to shred the carrots, then use the standard blade and pulse several seconds until the carrots are a fine consistency (don't go too far or you'll have carrot puree!).
Storing
Store frosted cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours or in the refrigerator (tightly sealed) for up to 5 days. I personally do enjoy the taste of these cold, but if you prefer them at room temperature just let them sit out of the fridge for about 15-20 minutes before enjoying.

[ericfinkelstein]

I think that those cookies look delicious and Carrot Cake is one of my favorite desserts of all time. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

[kkat]

Hi Sam, so I had to tell you that I made these as a surprise for my dad at Christmas as he loves carrot cake. These were a hit & everybody loved them including me. Thank you so much for this wonderful recipe. I will def make them on repeat!!

[michellehale]

I like how you explain the “why” of things you do.

[Pamela_Gram]

Yummy. Carrot cake cookies. Pure genius 👏

[M.C.Blackwell]

These look incredible !
I love carrot cake and these look just as delicious..and agree on the no raisins.


I bought a stand mixer at Aldi and finally opened it after a year. A hand mixer is just easier for a small batch of something.

[Judy-zfdz]

Im gonna make these today, my mom and I love carrot cake! Im 17 and learning how to bake and cook, your channel is a godsend ❤❤❤

[karenbalkaranali]

I think this is what I needed for my Easter to be complete, im making these next weekend for sure for my guests for Easter

[glendaharding]

Sam, you are so incredibly talented, and your cookie recipes prove that!! These look delicious, surely an Easter cookie! I think I will give them a go, also a fairly easy recipe too! Thank you my dear for all your hard work, it doesn't go unnoticed! Happy Easter to you and your beautiful and growing family!!

[meg]

I wish I had the energy to do this🤣 I’m very pregnant with baby #4. You are awesome pumping out all these videos!! Love your recipes❤️

[JackieOgle]

This is the third food channel I ve come across today with just really rude comments. Shocking really. If you cant say something positive, why be mean! If it bothers you.move along!

[deliaforet]

Sam, you're so hilarious. I love all your tutorials. I was thinking the same thing about the last cookie. Your poor mixer looks so lonely. Mine does, too. is so much easier to use the handheld than to pull out the big momma for the easy recipes . You're looking so cute.❤

[jeffadams]

I just made these, and they are amazing! Just like a cake but way quicker and easier. Thank you, Sam, for another great recipe!

[susanhammitt]

Seeing you with the beaters just reminded me of when I was recently making your cowboy cookies. I was trying to get the bowl off the base to scrape the bowl and inadvertently turned on the beaters. Batter flying all over, the cat of course had to be involved! Well the joys of baking. I make more work for myself than I need to :). Have a great day and looking forward to making these. I will let you know how it goes. These are pretty!

[KellyHunk]

I’m here making these AGAIN LOL Thanks Sam! Awesome recipe as usual !

[Ae-Ri]

You're so cute~ I love your personality 💗
Thank you for this recipe. I'm excited to try it 🐰🌸

[SavoryExperimentsCooking]

I love the idea of turning carrot cake into a cookie! So fun!

[MYLIFEMYSTORY]

Yum def must try great Easter dessert idea thank you 🫶🏾🐣

[charmainemontgomery]

Thank you for sharing this cookie recipe with us 😊

[IslandGirlLife]

I love this recipe!! Looks like a baby boy in the tummy 💖 Congrats to the fam.

[mmakomanyatja]

Exellent Sam many thanks God bless your family