Carrot Cookies Recipe: Soft, Spiced and Cream Cheese Frosted 2026

These carrot cookies take everything you love about classic carrot cake and turn it into a soft, spiced cookie that's ready in about 25 minutes. The centers stay tender and sweet, while a tangy cream cheese frosting and a sprinkle of crunchy walnuts add the perfect contrast in every bite.

The most eye-catching part is the simple but colorful decoration: a swirl of cream cheese frosting, a few chopped walnuts, and a tiny hand-drawn carrot on each cookie. That little carrot is completely optional, but it makes these cookies look bakery-worthy with almost no extra effort.

They're fantastic for an afternoon snack with a milkshake or any drink you like, and they disappear fast. If you're not serving them right away, keep the frosting chilled and decorate just before serving so the cookies stay irresistibly soft and fresh.

Ingredients for Carrot Cookies

This recipe makes 12 cookies.

• 110 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 100 g white sugar
• 100 g brown sugar
• 1 medium egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 75 g grated carrot
• 210 g wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 70 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 140 g powdered sugar, sifted
• 70 g cold cream cheese (Philadelphia or mascarpone style)
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
• Food coloring (optional)

How to Make Carrot Cookies Step by Step

1. Preheat the Oven and Cream the Butter and Sugars

Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F) with top and bottom heat. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside. Mix 110 g of butter with 100 g of white sugar and 100 g of brown sugar until the mixture lightens and turns creamy.

2. Add the Egg and Vanilla

Add 1 medium egg and 1 teaspoon of vanilla paste, and mix until fully incorporated into the creamed butter and sugar.

3. Add the Grated Carrot

Add 75 g of grated carrot and mix until it's evenly distributed through the dough.

4. Sift in the Dry Ingredients

Sift 210 g of wheat flour together with 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon of ground nutmeg, 1/4 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves, and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Mix well until you have a smooth, homogeneous dough.

5. Shape the Cookies

Scoop 12 portions of dough, well spaced apart, onto the two baking sheets. Place 6 portions per sheet since the cookies will spread a lot and this prevents them from sticking together. An ice cream scoop is ideal for portioning the dough into even mounds.

6. Bake and Cool the Cookies

Bake one sheet of cookies for 12-15 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden, then bake the second sheet. If the cookies aren't perfectly round, you can neaten the edges while they're still hot using a round cutter or a knife. Let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

7. Beat the Butter with the Powdered Sugar

Once the cookies are cool, prepare the frosting. Beat 70 g of unsalted butter at room temperature with 140 g of powdered sugar until the mixture is creamy and pale in color.

8. Add the Cream Cheese

Add 70 g of cold cream cheese and beat for a couple more minutes until it's fully integrated.

9. Frost and Decorate with Walnuts

Set aside 2 teaspoons of the frosting for the final decoration, then spread the remaining frosting over each cookie using a spoon or spatula. It doesn't need to look perfect, as these cookies are lovely with a slightly rustic finish. Then scatter 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts evenly over all the cookies.

10. Optional Carrot Decoration and Serving

Optionally, tint one teaspoon of the reserved frosting with green food coloring and the other with orange food coloring, following the dosage and mixing instructions on your coloring, since you usually need to blend basic colors to achieve these shades. Put the colored frosting into a small piping bag or, if you don't have one, a freezer bag with the tip cut off. Use the two colored frostings to draw a tiny carrot on each cookie, and they're ready to serve.

Tips for the Best Carrot Cookies

Keep the Frosting Chilled Until Serving

If you're not serving the cookies right away, leave the frosting in the fridge and decorate the cookies shortly before serving. This keeps the cookies at their irresistible best texture.

Frosting and Walnuts Are a Must

Even if you skip the little carrot decoration, do cover the cookies with the frosting and walnuts. The frosting adds a creamy touch and the walnuts bring a crunchy contrast that makes every bite perfectly balanced.

Perfect for Snack Time

These carrot cookies are wonderful for an afternoon snack alongside a milkshake or any other drink you like. Their soft, sweet centers contrast beautifully with the slightly tangy cream cheese topping.

30 Best Recipes I Love Making at Home

If you’re like me, you probably enjoy keeping a mix of easy comfort food, classic international dishes, and crowd-pleasing desserts on hand.

Whenever I want something rich and indulgent, I usually go for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this elegant Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a decadent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And when I’m craving something fruity and comforting, I always come back to this classic French Tarte Tatin recipe.

For easy breakfasts and lighter meals, I often make these fluffy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a satisfying Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these fresh Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. When I need a gluten-free pantry staple, I also like preparing this simple Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe.

When I’m in the mood for tapas and Mediterranean flavors, I usually rotate between this bold Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, creamy Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and refreshing Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. I also love serving this crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe when I want something a little more special.

For hearty lunches and cozy dinners, I always recommend this comforting Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, rich Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and creamy Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. If I want something more filling, I’ll often make this baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the ultra-comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Whenever I’m craving street food or party-style dishes, I usually make this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, flavorful Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crunchy Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. I also like serving these easy Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe as a simple appetizer or snack.

And if I’m putting together drinks and a full menu for guests, I’ll often pair dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this bold Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To round everything out, I love adding this tangy French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side or finishing the table with this striking Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

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Over the years of testing and refining recipes in my own kitchen, I’ve learned that the best dishes combine simplicity, reliable techniques, and bold flavor.

The recipes in this collection are the ones I personally return to again and again—whether I’m cooking a quick meal for myself or preparing something special for friends and family.

For dessert, the rich and silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I often make when I want something elegant but easy. Another sweet favorite is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, inspired by the famous Central European chimney cake. If you enjoy baking, learning how to make syrup for better texture in desserts is useful, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe explains exactly how I prepare it in my own kitchen.

When I want something fresh and simple, I usually turn to the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a perfectly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For heartier comfort meals, I often recommend the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the quick weeknight favorite One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I also love sharing traditional dishes from around the world, including the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the classic Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer recipes are another category I cook regularly because they save time while still producing great texture. My go-to options include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

For anyone avoiding wheat, my comforting Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe proves that classic baked pasta dishes can still be rich, cheesy, and incredibly satisfying without gluten.

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