Crumbl Carrot Cake Cookies (Printable)

Soft, spiced cookies topped with luscious cream cheese frosting inspired by Crumbl bakery.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cookie Dough

01 - 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
02 - ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
03 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
04 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
05 - 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
06 - 2 cups all-purpose flour
07 - 1 tsp baking powder
08 - ½ tsp baking soda
09 - ½ tsp salt
10 - 1½ tsp ground cinnamon
11 - ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
12 - 2 cups finely grated carrots (about 3 medium carrots)
13 - ½ cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

→ Cream Cheese Frosting

14 - 6 oz full-fat cream cheese, softened
15 - 4 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
16 - 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
17 - 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
18 - Pinch of salt

# Method:

01 - Preheat the oven to 350°F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a large bowl, cream together butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
03 - Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract, mixing until combined.
04 - In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
05 - Gradually add dry ingredients to wet, mixing just until combined.
06 - Fold in grated carrots and nuts (if using) until evenly distributed.
07 - Scoop 3-tablespoon-sized mounds of dough onto prepared baking sheets, spacing at least 2 inches apart.
08 - Bake for 12-14 minutes, or until edges are golden and centers are set. Cool cookies on the sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
09 - Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth and creamy. Gradually add powdered sugar, followed by vanilla and salt, beating until fluffy.
10 - Once cookies are completely cool, generously frost each with cream cheese frosting. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped nuts if desired.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • They capture everything magical about carrot cake but in handheld form, no fork required
  • The cream cheese frosting to cookie ratio is absolute perfection, thick enough to swoon over but not so much it overwhelms
  • These stay incredibly moist for days, making them perfect for baking ahead and sharing throughout the week
02 -
  • Wait until cookies are completely cool before frosting, otherwise the frosting will melt right off
  • Grating carrots by hand gives better texture than food processed carrots, which can turn mushy
  • These cookies actually taste better the next day as the flavors meld and moisture distributes
03 -
  • Use the finest grating side of your box grater for carrots that virtually disappear into the cookie
  • Chill the dough for 30 minutes if your kitchen is warm to prevent excessive spreading