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Soft Gluten Free Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting ⭐ - Tender, Cozy, and Easy

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 27 minutes
Servings: 18 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Dry ingredients: 1 cup gluten free all-purpose flour (with xanthan gum), 1 cup blanched almond flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Sugars: 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • Fats and liquids: 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 large egg; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Carrots: 1 1/4 cups finely grated carrots (about 2 medium), gently patted dry
  • Optional add-ins: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, 1/3 cup raisins, 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
  • Cream cheese frosting: 6 ounces cream cheese (brick style), 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened; 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; pinch of salt

Method
 

  1. Prep the oven and pans: Heat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk gluten free flour, almond flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  3. Cream butter and sugars: In a large bowl, beat butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.
  4. Add egg and vanilla: Beat in the egg and vanilla until smooth.
  5. Combine wet and dry: Add dry ingredients to the wet mixture and mix on low until just combined. Do not overmix.
  6. Fold in carrots and add-ins: Stir in grated carrots and any optional nuts, raisins, or coconut. The dough will be soft and thick.
  7. Scoop: Use a 1 1/2-tablespoon cookie scoop to portion dough onto trays, spacing about 2 inches apart. Gently pat the tops to level.
  8. Bake: Bake 10–12 minutes, until edges are set and centers look slightly soft. They’ll finish setting as they cool.
  9. Cool completely: Let cookies rest on the sheet 5 minutes, then transfer to a rack to cool fully before frosting.
  10. Make frosting: Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Beat until fluffy, 1–2 minutes.
  11. Frost: Spread or pipe frosting on cooled cookies. Garnish with a sprinkle of chopped nuts or cinnamon if you like.