Carrot Spice Thumbprint Cookies

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

I Enjoy This Recipe Because It Combines The Comforting Flavor Of Carrot Cake With The Fun Shape Of Thumbprint Cookies. The Warm Cinnamon And Clove Spices Give The Cookies A Wonderful Aroma While Baking.

I Also Like How The Cream Cheese Frosting Adds A Rich And Creamy Center. The Combination Of Soft Cookie And Sweet Frosting Makes These Cookies Perfect For Holidays, Gatherings, Or Anytime I Want A Special Treat.

Ingredients

(Here’s A Tip: Check Out The Full List Of Ingredients And Measurements In The Recipe Card Below.)

For The Cookies I Use:

• 1 Cup Margarine, Softened

• 1 Cup Sugar

• 1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

• 2 Large Eggs, Room Temperature

• 2 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract

• 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour

• 1 1/2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

• 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder

• 3/4 Teaspoon Salt

• 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

• 1/8 Teaspoon Ground Cloves

• 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Carrots

• 2/3 Cup Chopped Walnuts, Toasted

• 1/2 Cup Dried Cranberries

For The Frosting I Use:

• 1/2 Cup Butter, Softened

• 4 Ounces Cream Cheese, Softened

• 2 Cups Confectioners’ Sugar

• 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract

For Finishing:

• Additional Confectioners’ Sugar

Directions

I Begin By Preheating My Oven To 375°F.

In A Large Mixing Bowl, I Cream The Margarine, Sugar, And Brown Sugar Together Until The Mixture Becomes Light And Fluffy. This Usually Takes About 5 To 7 Minutes.

Next, I Beat In The Eggs And Vanilla Extract Until Everything Is Well Combined.

In A Separate Bowl, I Whisk Together The Flour, Cinnamon, Baking Powder, Salt, Baking Soda, And Ground Cloves. I Gradually Add The Dry Ingredients Into The Creamed Mixture And Mix Until A Dough Forms.

Then I Stir In The Shredded Carrots, Toasted Walnuts, And Dried Cranberries.

Using A Tablespoon, I Drop Rounded Spoonfuls Of Dough Onto Parchment-Lined Baking Sheets, Leaving About 2 Inches Of Space Between Each Cookie.

With The Back Of A Half-Teaspoon Measure, I Press A Deep Indentation Into The Center Of Each Cookie.

I Bake The Cookies For About 10 To 12 Minutes, Until The Edges Begin To Turn Lightly Brown. If Needed, I Reshape The Indentations While The Cookies Are Still Warm.

I Let The Cookies Cool On The Pan For About 5 Minutes Before Transferring Them To Wire Racks To Cool Completely.

To Make The Frosting, I Beat The Butter, Cream Cheese, Confectioners’ Sugar, And Vanilla Extract Together Until Smooth And Creamy.

Once The Cookies Are Completely Cool, I Fill Each Indentation With About 1 1/2 Teaspoons Of Frosting.

Finally, I Lightly Sprinkle Additional Confectioners’ Sugar Over The Top Before Serving.

Servings And Timing

This Recipe Makes About 5 Dozen Cookies.

The Preparation Time Is Around 25 Minutes And The Baking Time Is About 10 To 12 Minutes Per Batch. The Total Time For The Recipe Is Approximately 40 Minutes.

Variations

I Sometimes Replace The Walnuts With Pecans For A Slightly Different Nutty Flavor.

If I Want A Stronger Carrot Cake Flavor, I Add A Small Pinch Of Ground Nutmeg Or Ginger To The Dough.

I Also Occasionally Mix White Chocolate Chips Into The Cookie Dough For Extra Sweetness.

For A Decorative Touch, I sometimes pipe the cream cheese frosting into the centers instead of spooning it in.

Storage/Reheating

I Store The Filled Cookies In An Airtight Container In The Refrigerator For Up To 4 Days Because Of The Cream Cheese Frosting.

Before Serving, I Let The Cookies Sit At Room Temperature For About 10 Minutes So The Frosting Softens Slightly.

If I Want To Prepare Them Ahead Of Time, I Bake The Cookies First And Add The Frosting Later When I Am Ready To Serve.

FAQs

Can I Use Butter Instead Of Margarine?

I Sometimes Use Butter Instead Of Margarine. It Gives The Cookies A Richer Flavor And Works Just As Well.

Do I Need To Peel The Carrots Before Shredding?

I Usually Peel The Carrots Before Shredding Them So The Texture Of The Cookies Stays Smooth.

Can I Make The Dough Ahead Of Time?

I Occasionally Prepare The Dough A Day In Advance And Store It In The Refrigerator Until I Am Ready To Bake.

Why Do I Press An Indentation In The Cookies?

The Indentation Creates A Small Space For The Cream Cheese Frosting Filling, Which Gives The Cookies Their Thumbprint Style.

Can I Freeze These Cookies?

I Can Freeze The Cookies Without Frosting For Up To 2 Months. When I Am Ready To Serve Them, I Thaw Them And Add The Frosting Fresh.

Conclusion

I Think Carrot Spice Thumbprint Cookies Are A Wonderful Combination Of Warm Spices, Sweet Carrots, And Creamy Frosting. They Have The Cozy Flavor Of Carrot Cake But In A Bite-Sized Cookie Form. Whenever I Bake Them, The Soft Texture And Creamy Center Make Them A Favorite Treat For Sharing With Family And Friends.

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