Carrot Cake Cookies

I do love carrot cake. It's really the only cake that I like to eat. It's possible that's largely because of the cream cheese frosting. I love a good cream cheese frosting. When I think of Easter, carrot cake naturally floats to the top. But ugg, I don't want to eat cake.

But I love love love cookies. Cookies are the best. I could eat cookies all the time. So I had an idea - can I turn carrot cake into a cookie? It makes the ultimate dessert mash-up/solution. I don't have to eat cake, but I still get the carrot cake + cream cheese frosting. Well, this one is really icing. But you get the idea.

Oh, and for the love of pete, grate your own carrot. It takes one minute and it's so much better than those weird carrot sticks you can buy "pre-grated."

how to

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder and all of the spices. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer cream together sugar and butter until smooth and fluffy. Add apple sauce, egg, and vanilla. Beat until incorporated. Stir in carrot and raisins.

Scoop batter on to a baking sheet and bake 8-10 minutes until browned on the edges, but still a little soft in the middle. I smash down the tops when they come out of the oven so they don't 'bump up.' Let cool on a cooling rack until completely cooled before icing.

icing

4 oz cream cheese, melted

2 oz butter, melted

2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

Whisk together cream cheese and butter. Add powdered sugar and vanilla and beat until smooth. Dip cookies in soft icing. Let cool.

ingredients

2 1/2 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon allspice