Heavenly Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe for Sweet Moments

Soft and chewy carrot cake cookies pack a delightful punch of flavor that’ll make you smile.

Warm spices dance through each tender bite, creating a magical experience.

Cream cheese frosting adds a luxurious touch to these irresistible treats.

Nuts and raisins contribute unexpected texture and depth to every morsel.

Baking these cookies feels like wrapping yourself in a cozy autumn afternoon.

Sweet memories of grandma’s kitchen will flood back with each delectable crumb.

You won’t be able to resist making a double batch of these incredible cookies.

Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies to Enjoy

• Craft Gourmet Delights: These stuffed carrot cake cookies elevate home baking with professional-level technique, transforming ordinary ingredients into extraordinary treats that wow everyone.
• Master Complex Flavors: Roasting carrots, incorporating brown butter, and adding orange cream cheese filling create a multi-layered taste experience that surprises and delights taste buds with unexpected depth.
• Customizable Comfort Treat: Flexible recipe allows personalization by adjusting nuts, coconut, or spice levels, making it perfect for different dietary preferences and family gatherings.
• Bake-Ahead Brilliance: Prepare dough in advance and refrigerate, enabling stress-free entertaining and convenient preparation for potlucks, parties, or spontaneous dessert cravings.

Ingredients for Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies

• Cream Cheese: A smooth and creamy base for the orange-infused filling.
• Powdered Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create a silky texture.
• Vanilla Extract: Provides a warm, classic flavor to the filling.
• Orange Zest: Brings a bright, citrusy note to the cream cheese mixture.

• Brown Butter: Offers a rich, nutty flavor to the cookie base.
• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Provide sweetness and help with cookie texture.
• Egg: Binds the ingredients and adds structure to the cookie dough.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor profile.
• Salt: Balances and intensifies the sweet flavors.

• Flour, Baking Soda: Create the cookie's structure and help with rising.
• Roasted Carrots: Add moisture, natural sweetness, and a subtle vegetable essence.
• Instant Oats, Chopped Pecans, Shredded Coconut: Contribute texture and depth of flavor.
• Ground Spices: Provide warm, aromatic notes to the cookie dough.

How to Make Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies

Step 1: Whip the Creamy Filling

Create a luscious filling by blending cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and orange zest in a medium mixing bowl. Grab an electric mixer and beat until the mixture transforms into a silky, smooth consistency.

Step 2: Chill the Filling

Pop the filling into the refrigerator to cool and set while you prepare the remaining components.

Step 3: Roast the Carrots

Spread finely grated carrots in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

Slide into a preheated oven at 375°F and roast for 10 minutes. Stir the carrots to ensure even cooking, then continue roasting for another 10 minutes until they become fragrant and lightly golden.

Step 4: Cool Roasted Carrots

Remove carrots from the oven and let them cool completely on the baking sheet.

Step 5: Create the Butter Base

In a large bowl, mix cooled brown butter with granulated sugar, brown sugar, and a pinch of salt until well combined.

Step 6: Blend Wet Ingredients

Introduce egg, vanilla extract, and spices to the butter mixture. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture becomes smooth and glossy.

Step 7: Combine Dry Ingredients

Sift flour and baking soda together. Gradually fold these dry ingredients into the wet mixture, creating a soft, pliable dough.

Step 8: Fold in Extras

• Instant oats
• Chopped pecans
• Shredded coconut

Step 9: Shape the Cookies

Using a cookie scoop, portion out eight equal dough balls.

Step 10: Stuff the Cookies

Flatten each dough portion into a disc.

Place a teaspoon of chilled filling in the center, then carefully seal by pinching the edges closed.

Step 11: Chill the Stuffed Cookies

Arrange the filled cookies on a sheet and refrigerate for at least one hour to firm up.

Step 12: Bake to Perfection

Preheat oven to 325°F. Arrange cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet, leaving space between each.

Bake for 14-16 minutes until slightly domed and edges turn golden brown.

Step 13: Final Cooling

Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet for one hour before serving, ensuring they set perfectly.

Tips for Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies

• Roast carrots thoroughly to enhance their natural sweetness and develop a deeper flavor profile for the cookies.
• Chill the dough before baking to prevent spreading and maintain the cookies' perfect shape and texture.
• Use room temperature ingredients to ensure smooth mixing and consistent cookie texture.
• Try different nuts like walnuts or almonds for varied crunch and flavor dimensions.
• Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for maximum freshness, consuming within 3-4 days.

Variations on Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies

• Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Cookies: Replace wheat flour with almond flour or gluten-free flour blend for a celiac-friendly version.
• Vegan Orange Cream Cookies: Swap cream cheese with cashew cream, use coconut oil instead of butter, and replace egg with flax egg.
• Nut-Free Spiced Carrot Cookies: Eliminate pecans and substitute with sunflower seeds or rolled oats for crunch and texture.
• Low-Sugar Carrot Cake Cookies: Use monk fruit sweetener or stevia in place of granulated sugar, and reduce overall sugar content while maintaining flavor profile.

Pairing Suggestions for Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies

• The warm, spicy notes of a chai latte complement the carrot cake cookie's cinnamon and nutmeg flavors, creating a harmonious blend of comfort and sweetness.
• A smooth bourbon with hints of toasted pecans echoes the cookie's nutty elements, enhancing the rich, complex taste profile and providing a sophisticated adult beverage pairing.
• A light, refreshing orange cream sorbet mirrors the orange zest in the cream cheese filling, offering a palate-cleansing counterpoint to the dense, spiced cookie texture.
• A bold espresso with salted caramel undertones cuts through the cookie's sweetness, providing a contrasting flavor that highlights the dessert's intricate layers.

Storage Tips for Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies

• Refrigeration Storage: Place cookies in an airtight container with parchment paper between layers. Keep refrigerated for up to 5 days, maintaining their soft texture and creamy filling.
• Freezer Preservation: Wrap individual cookies tightly in plastic wrap, then store in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months without losing quality or taste.
• Counter Storage: Keep cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for 2-3 days, ensuring they remain fresh and delicious. Avoid direct sunlight or heat sources.
• Reheating Method: Warm cookies gently in the microwave for 10-15 seconds or let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving to restore their original soft, tender texture.

FAQs

• Why roast the carrots before adding them to the cookie dough?

Roasting concentrates the carrots’ natural sweetness and deepens their flavor, creating a more complex and rich taste profile in the final cookie.

• Can I substitute the pecans or coconut in the recipe?

Yes, you can swap pecans with walnuts or almonds, and replace coconut with additional oats or chopped dried fruit to maintain the texture and moisture of the cookies.

• How do I know when the brown butter is properly browned?

Brown butter is ready when it turns a golden amber color and develops a nutty, toasted aroma. Watch carefully to prevent burning, as it can quickly go from perfectly browned to burnt.

Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies Recipe

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4.7 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
• Yield: 24 1x

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Description

Delightful stuffed carrot cake cookies marry classic dessert flavors with handheld convenience. Cream cheese filling and warming spices create an irresistible treat you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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• 4 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)
• 4 tbsps powdered sugar
• 1 tsp orange zest
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 9 tbsps unsalted butter (browned and cooled)
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup instant oats
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3 medium carrots (finely grated)
• 1/2 cup spiced pecans (chopped)
• 1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut
• 1 1/2 tsps vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Craft a velvety filling by whipping cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and orange zest with an electric mixer until silky smooth.
2. Chill the filling in the refrigerator to maintain its consistency.
3. Heat the oven to 375°F (190°C) for roasting carrots.
4. Spread finely grated carrots in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
5. Roast carrots for 10 minutes, then stir to promote even caramelization.
6. Continue roasting for another 10 minutes until carrots develop a rich, fragrant aroma and light golden hue.
7. Let roasted carrots cool completely on the baking sheet.
8. Combine brown butter with granulated and brown sugars, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
9. Incorporate egg, vanilla extract, and spices into the butter mixture, blending until glossy and uniform.
10. Sift flour and baking soda, then gradually fold into the wet ingredients to create a soft, cohesive dough.
11. Gently fold cooled carrots, instant oats, pecans, and coconut into the prepared dough.
12. Portion dough into eight equal rounds using a cookie scoop.
13. Flatten each dough portion, center a teaspoon of chilled cream cheese filling, and carefully seal the edges to encase the filling.
14. Refrigerate stuffed dough portions for at least one hour to enhance flavor and texture.
15. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F (163°C), arrange cookies on a parchment-lined sheet, and bake for 14-16 minutes until edges turn golden and cookies appear slightly domed.
16. Allow cookies to cool completely on the baking sheet, ensuring proper setting before serving.

Notes

• Roast carrots carefully to enhance their natural sweetness and develop a deeper flavor profile, preventing moisture that could make cookies soggy.
• Chill dough thoroughly to ensure cookies maintain their shape and prevent excessive spreading during baking, creating a more structured and appealing texture.
• Experiment with alternative fillings like almond cream cheese or maple mascarpone for unique flavor variations that complement the carrot cake base.
• Adapt recipe for dietary needs by substituting gluten-free flour, using vegan butter alternatives, and replacing eggs with flax eggs for inclusive baking options.

• Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 24
• Calories: 142 kcal
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 95 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 3 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 17 g
• Fiber: 1.5 g
• Protein: 2 g
• Cholesterol: 25 mg