Carrot-Cake Thumbprint Cookies

5.0

(1)

These dreamy treats taste like carrot cake but are easier to make.

Prep Time:

35 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 45 mins

Servings:

18

Yield:

Makes 1 1/2 dozen

You can have your cake and eat it too with these carrot cake cookies. They’re irresistibly soft and chewy thumbprint cookies studded with grated carrots, chopped pecans, golden raisins, and rolled oats. The creamy filling is similar to cream cheese frosting but features fresh goat cheese (cream cheese would work in its place) and a swirl of apricot jam. The cookies are simpler to make than a carrot layer cake, equally delicious, and more portable. With these individual treats, everyone can enjoy carrot cake flavors in their lunchbox or as an easy afternoon snack.

Piping makes fast work of filling the cookies. If you don't have a piping bag, use a plastic bag with a corner snipped off. Alternatively, you can simply spoon the filling in.

Directions

Preheat oven; mix butter, sugars, and yolk:

Preheat oven to 350°F. In a large bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown and granulated sugars, and yolk.
Mix dry ingredients and add to butter mixture:

In another bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, cinnamon, and salt. Stir flour mixture into butter mixture to combine.
Add oats, carrots, and raisins; refrigerate:

Mix in oats, carrots, and raisins. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes.
Form cookies, roll in pecans, and bake:

Roll dough into 1 1/2-inch balls; roll balls in pecans to coat. Space 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 10 minutes.
Form thumbprints and bake:

Remove from oven; press an indentation into center of each cookie with the end of a wooden spoon. Bake until golden brown on bottoms, 10 to 12 minutes more. Transfer cookies to a wire rack; let cool.
Make filling and add to each cookie:

In a bowl, beat remaining 1/2 stick butter and confectioners' sugar on medium until smooth. Beat in goat cheese until just combined. Swirl in jam. Fill center of each cookie with goat-cheese mixture; serve.

Carrot-Cake Thumbprint Cookies

Directions

Preheat oven; mix butter, sugars, and yolk:

Mix dry ingredients and add to butter mixture:

Add oats, carrots, and raisins; refrigerate:

Form cookies, roll in pecans, and bake:

Form thumbprints and bake:

Make filling and add to each cookie:

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