Carrot Cake Cookies

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup quick oats
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups finely grated carrots
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 4 oz cream cheese, softened
• 6 Tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, whisk the flour, quick oats, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and salt for 30 seconds, then put that bowl aside. In the bowl of an electric stand mixer with the paddle attachment, beat the 1/2 cup butter with the granulated sugar and brown sugar until the mixture looks evenly combined. Add the egg and vanilla extract and mix them in. Turn the mixer to low and gradually work in the flour mixture, stopping as soon as the dough comes together. Stir in the carrots, then fold in the walnuts. Cover the bowl and refrigerate the dough for 1 hr 15 minutes. During the last 10 minutes of that chilling time, heat the oven to 350.
2. Scoop the dough in 2 Tbsp portions, 32g each, onto baking sheets lined with Silpat or parchment paper, leaving at least 2-inches between cookies. If you want neater rounds, you can shape the portions into balls, though the dough will be sticky. Bake in the heated oven for 12 – 13 minutes, until the middles do not look raw anymore. Let the cookies sit on the baking sheet for several minutes, then move them to a wire rack. Once they are fully cool, spread the cream cheese filling between 2 cookies to make each sandwich. Keep them in an airtight container, arranged in a single layer.
3. For the cream cheese frosting, use the paddle attachment on an electric stand mixer to beat the cream cheese, butter and salt until the mixture is smooth and light. Add the vanilla and powdered sugar, then keep whipping until the frosting is smooth and very fluffy.