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Vegan Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe

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★★★★★

4.3 from 77 reviews

These Vegan Carrot Cake Cookies are soft, tender, and packed with warm spices and shredded carrots, perfectly topped with a creamy vegan cream cheese frosting. They make a delightful plant-based treat that’s as charming in appearance as it is flavorful, ideal for sharing or indulging in a wholesome dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Cookie Dough

  • 1 1/4 cups (240g) packed brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup (170g) vegan butter (room temperature)
  • 3/4 cup (75g) finely shredded carrots (about 1 medium carrot)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 1/2 cups (315g) all-purpose plain flour
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Pinch of salt (or to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon (15g) dairy-free milk (if needed)

Frosting

  • 1/4 cup (60g) vegan block butter (room temperature)
  • 4 oz (120g) vegan cream cheese (room temperature)
  • 2 cups (200g) powdered sugar / icing sugar (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Orange and green food coloring (optional)
  • 3 tablespoons (20g) chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F). Line 2-3 baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and for easy cleanup.
  2. Mix Wet Ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, combine the vegan butter and brown sugar using a hand mixer or stand mixer with a paddle attachment until well combined. Add the finely shredded carrots and vanilla extract and continue beating until evenly mixed.
  3. Incorporate Dry Ingredients: Add the all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground ginger, baking soda, and a pinch of salt to the wet mixture. Mix just until combined. The dough should be soft and tacky; if it feels crumbly, add the dairy-free milk and mix again until the dough holds together.
  4. Shape Cookie Dough Balls: Divide the dough into approximately 14 equal portions. Roll each portion into a ball shape, ensuring uniform size for even baking.
  5. Arrange and Bake Cookies: Place the cookie dough balls on the prepared baking sheets, spacing them about 5 cm (2 inches) apart to allow for spreading. Bake in the preheated oven for 13-14 minutes, or until the edges turn a slight golden brown.
  6. Cool Cookies: Let the cookies cool on the baking trays for at least 20-30 minutes; they will be soft when warm but will firm as they cool. Once slightly cooled, transfer them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
  7. Prepare Frosting: In a large bowl or stand mixer, beat the vegan butter until light and fluffy. Add the vegan cream cheese and continue beating until smooth and lump-free.
  8. Add Sugar and Flavor: Gradually beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract until just combined. Avoid overmixing to prevent the frosting from becoming runny.
  9. Optional Coloring for Decoration: If you wish to decorate with carrot designs, separate about 50g of frosting into one small bowl and add orange food coloring. Place 10g of frosting into another small bowl with green food coloring.
  10. Frost the Cookies: Spread about 1 tablespoon of frosting on each cooled cookie. Use a piping bag with a small tip to create carrot shapes if desired, and sprinkle chopped walnuts or pecans on top for extra texture and flavor.
  11. Storage: Store the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to 1 month to maintain freshness and flavor.

Notes

  • Make sure the vegan butter and cream cheese are at room temperature to ensure smooth frosting.
  • If the cookie dough is too crumbly, adding a bit of dairy-free milk will help bind it.
  • Frosting consistency is important: avoid overmixing to keep it from turning runny.
  • Chilling the dough is not necessary but can help with easier shaping if your kitchen is warm.
  • Walnuts can be substituted with pecans or left out for nut-free cookies.
  • For a more vibrant carrot effect, use gel food coloring rather than liquid.

Keywords: vegan carrot cake cookies, vegan cookies, carrot cake dessert, plant-based cookies, dairy-free carrot cake, vegan cream cheese frosting

Find it online: https://epicrecipebox.com/vegan-carrot-cake-cookies-recipe/