Carrot-Cake Cookies

Name: Carrot-Cake Cookies
Prep time: 30 min
Total time: 75 min
Ingredients: 2 ounces bar cream cheese, room temperature; 2 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature; 0.25 cup confectioners' sugar; 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice; 0.5 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted; 0.5 cup packed light-brown sugar; 0.25 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg yolk; 0.75 cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 0.5 teaspoon salt; 1 cup rolled oats; 0.75 cup packed, finely grated, peeled carrots; 0.333 cup dried currants

3.1

(212)

34 Reviews

By

Martha Stewart Editors

Updated on June 12, 2017

Prep Time:

30 mins

Total Time:

1 hrs 15 mins

Yield:

18

Although carrot cake didn't appear in U.S. cookbooks until the second half of the twentieth century, today it is indisputably a classic and beloved American dessert. These delicious carrot-cake cookies incorporate the same ingredients into two wafers, which are sandwiched together with a layer of rich cream-cheese frosting.

Ingredients

For The Filling

2 ounces bar cream cheese, room temperature
2 ounces unsalted butter, room temperature
¼ cup confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

For The Cookies

½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
½ cup packed light-brown sugar
¼ cup granulated sugar
1 large egg yolk
¾ cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup rolled oats
¾ cup packed, finely grated, peeled carrots
⅓ cup dried currants

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Make filling: With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add sugar and lemon juice; beat until combined. Cover; chill until firm, at least 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, make cookies: In a large bowl, whisk together butter, sugars, and egg yolk. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, ginger, and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture; stir until combined. Mix in oats, carrots, and currants.
Drop dough by level tablespoons, 2 inches apart, onto prepared baking sheets. Flatten with the palm of your hand. Bake until edges are crisp, rotating baking sheets halfway through, 15 to 18 minutes. Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
Turn half the cookies over, bottom side up; dollop each with about 1 teaspoon chilled cream-cheese filling. Top with remaining cookies, pressing gently to spread filling to edges. Serve immediately.

Cook's Notes

Before being filled, the cookies can be kept in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. The filling can be made ahead and chilled for up to five days.