Cozy Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Filling
These soft, spiced carrot cake cookies feature a luscious cream cheese filling, offering a cozy and comforting treat perfect for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 27 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 42 minutes
- Yield: 24 servings 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (240g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup (150g) brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup (about 120g) grated carrots, packed
- 1/2 cup (60g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)
- 1/3 cup (50g) raisins (optional)
- 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients by grating the carrots finely and letting them drain on a paper towel to avoid soggy dough. Soften butter and cream cheese ahead of time.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Using a mixer, beat softened butter with brown sugar and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing on low speed or folding gently. Stir in grated carrots and optional nuts or raisins. Do not overmix.
- In a separate bowl, beat cream cheese with softened butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar and vanilla extract, beating until silky and fluffy.
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, flatten slightly, add a teaspoon of cream cheese filling in the center, top with another dough scoop, and seal edges gently.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 12 to 15 minutes until edges are golden and centers look soft.
- Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and cool completely to prevent sogginess.
Notes
Chill assembled cookies for 15 minutes before baking to prevent filling from oozing out. Sift powdered sugar for a smooth filling. Do not overmix dough to keep cookies tender. Freshly grated carrots should be drained to avoid soggy dough. Seal edges well to keep filling inside.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Protein: 2
Keywords: carrot cake cookies, cream cheese filling, cozy cookies, spiced cookies, easy dessert, homemade cookies