Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwiches

Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwiches:

Cookies:

• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
• ¾ cup sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2½  cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• 1½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp ginger
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ⅛ tsp cloves
• 1½ cups shredded carrots

Cream cheese filling:

• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 8oz (1 block) cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• ½ cup chopped pecans (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. To make the cookies, cream together the butter and sugars on medium speed until light and fluffy.
3. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until well combined.
4. Add in all of the dry ingredients and mix until almost all the flour is mixed in; then add the shredded carrots and continue to mix until the the carrots are distributed evenly throughout the dough.
5. Scoop dough (~2tbsp scoops) onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper.
6. Bake for 12-15 minutes.
7. While cookies cool, make the filling. Using a mixer with the whisk attachment, beat together the butter and cream cheese until smooth, about 3-5 minutes.
8. Add the vanilla and beat to incorporate.
9. Add the powdered sugar, mixing first on low speed (to avoid sending sugar flying everywhere!) then increasing to medium-high and beating until well combined and smooth.
10. When cookies are completely cool, turn them upside down and put filling onto half of them, then use the other half to make sandwiches. I like to use a piping bag to swirl the filling on, but they’ll be just as delicious of you spread it on with a spoon 🙂
11. Roll the outside of the cookie sandwiches in chopped pecans, if using.
12. Yield: 36 cookies, 18 cookie sandwiches

I’ve been working on perfecting this recipe for a while now, but just had extra motivation to get it done this week. My brother and sister-in-law just had a baby girl (!!!) and I wanted to bring them some welcome-home treats. Since they chose carrot cake for their wedding, and I made them a carrot cake for their baby shower, this seemed like the perfect choice!

These cookies bring the flavor of carrot cake into a much-easier-to-make little package, and the cream cheese filling is the perfect level of sweet.

My sister-in-law voted them “1000% ready” for the blog, so here we go! Recipe perfected, and ready to share!!