Easy Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting (Made from Cake Mix!)
Indulge in the irresistible charm of these easy 3-ingredient carrot cake cookies, perfectly paired with a smooth and utterly delicious cream cheese frosting. These delightful carrot cake sandwich cookies are not only incredibly simple to make but also serve as the ideal treat for spring celebrations, Easter gatherings, or any time you crave a comforting, spiced dessert.
There’s a certain magic to carrot cake that transcends seasonal boundaries, though it undeniably shines brightest in the spring. Its moist, spiced crumb and the essential tang of cream cheese frosting make it a universally beloved dessert. While a traditional carrot cake can be a labor of love, sometimes you need that incredible flavor in a more accessible, bite-sized form. That’s where these phenomenal carrot cake sandwich cookies come in!
My husband, for instance, has an interesting palate when it comes to desserts. He can often pass up almost any dessert that features chocolate – a concept that sometimes baffles me, as chocolate feels like a fundamental craving for many. But then, the other part of me silently rejoices, knowing that his chocolate aversion simply means more for me to enjoy! However, there are a few exceptions to his dessert neutrality, and carrot cake is at the top of that short list. When carrot cake is involved, it doesn’t stand a chance around him, or honestly, around me either. And these carrot cake cookies with their rich, creamy cheese filling are no exception to our shared love.
What makes these particular carrot cake cookies truly special, beyond their delightful flavor and texture, is their incredible simplicity. We’re talking about a recipe that starts with just three ingredients for the cookies themselves, relying on a clever shortcut that makes baking a breeze without sacrificing an ounce of taste. If you’re looking for an impressive yet effortless dessert that captures all the comforting essence of carrot cake in a convenient cookie format, you’ve just found your new go-to recipe. Get ready to bake some joy!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Carrot Cake Cookie Recipe
These carrot cake sandwich cookies aren’t just delicious; they’re designed for convenience without compromising on flavor. Here’s why this recipe will quickly become a favorite in your baking repertoire:
- Incredibly Simple: The cookie base uses a cake mix, cutting down on ingredient measuring and prep time significantly. It’s almost foolproof!
- Perfectly Moist & Flavorful: Despite the shortcut, these cookies are wonderfully moist, packed with the classic spice notes of carrot cake.
- Decadent Cream Cheese Frosting: The homemade cream cheese frosting is rich, tangy, and perfectly complements the spiced cookies, creating that iconic carrot cake experience.
- Ideal for Any Occasion: While fantastic for spring, Easter, or Mother’s Day, these cookies are a hit year-round. They’re great for potlucks, bake sales, or simply as a special treat for your family.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: Both the cookies and the frosting can be prepared in advance, making assembly quick and easy when you’re ready to serve.
- Bite-Sized Joy: As sandwich cookies, they’re perfectly portioned and easy to eat, less messy than a slice of cake, but just as satisfying.
Recipe Ingredients for Unforgettable Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies
To make this recipe as straightforward as possible, we’re leveraging the magic of a cake mix for the cookie base. This ingenious trick saves you time and effort while still delivering that classic carrot cake flavor. Here’s a detailed look at the simple ingredients you’ll need for both the cookies and the luscious cream cheese frosting:
- Carrot Cake Mix: This is our secret weapon! You’ll need one standard-size box of carrot cake mix, typically 15.25 ounces (about 432g). Any reputable brand will work perfectly. The mix already contains the flour, sugar, leavening agents, and most importantly, the delightful spices and sometimes even small bits of carrot that give carrot cake its signature taste. This ensures consistent flavor and texture with minimal fuss.
- Oil: A neutral-flavored oil like vegetable oil or canola oil is ideal for this recipe. It adds moisture to the cookies, helping them stay soft and chewy, and contributes to a tender crumb without imparting any distinct flavor that might compete with the carrot cake profile.
- Eggs: Large eggs act as a binder, helping to hold all the ingredients together. They also contribute to the cookie’s structure and richness, ensuring they bake up perfectly. Using eggs at room temperature can sometimes help them incorporate more smoothly into the batter, though it’s not strictly necessary for this forgiving cake mix recipe.
- Unsalted Butter: For the cream cheese frosting, I always recommend using unsalted butter. This gives you complete control over the salt content in your frosting. Softened butter is crucial for achieving a smooth, creamy frosting texture. If your butter isn’t soft enough, it can lead to a lumpy frosting.
- Full-Fat Brick-Style Cream Cheese: Opt for full-fat, brick-style cream cheese, not the spreadable kind that comes in a tub. The brick variety has less water content, which is essential for a thick, stable, and perfectly creamy frosting that holds its shape beautifully between the cookies. Ensure it’s softened to room temperature for the best mixing results.
- Confectioners’ Sugar: Also known as powdered sugar or icing sugar, this finely milled sugar is what sweetens the frosting and gives it its smooth, melt-in-your-mouth texture. It dissolves easily, preventing any graininess. Sifting it before adding it to the frosting can help prevent lumps, though vigorous mixing often suffices.
- Pure Vanilla Extract: A touch of pure vanilla extract enhances all the other flavors in the cream cheese frosting, adding a warm, aromatic depth that perfectly complements the tanginess of the cream cheese. If possible, use pure vanilla for the best taste.
Crafting Your Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies: A Simple Guide
Making these delectable carrot cake sandwich cookies is surprisingly simple, broken down into two main steps: preparing the easy cake mix cookies and whipping up the velvety cream cheese frosting. Here’s how to bring them to life:
For the Carrot Cake Cookies:
These cookies are made with just three ingredients: a box of carrot cake mix, 1/3 cup of oil, and 2 large eggs. This minimal ingredient list makes them incredibly quick to prepare.
- Preheat and Prepare: Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. This step is essential for preventing sticking and ensuring easy removal of your delicate cookies.
- Mix the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the carrot cake mix, oil, and eggs. Use a whisk or an electric mixer on low speed to blend everything together until just combined and a soft, uniform dough forms. Be careful not to overmix; overmixing can lead to tougher cookies. The dough will be slightly sticky, which is perfectly normal.
- Scoop and Bake: Using a cookie scoop (approximately 2 tablespoons per scoop) or two spoons, drop rounded balls of dough onto your prepared baking sheet, leaving about 2 inches between each cookie to allow for spreading. If desired, you can gently flatten the tops of the dough balls slightly with the back of a spoon or your fingers to create a more even surface for sandwiching later.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the cookies for 11-12 minutes. They should be lightly golden brown around the edges, and a toothpick inserted into the center should come out clean. Avoid overbaking, as this can make the cookies dry.
- Cool Down: Once baked, remove the cookies from the oven. Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling completely is crucial before frosting to prevent the frosting from melting.
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
While your cookies are cooling, you can whip up the rich and tangy cream cheese frosting.
- Beat Butter and Cream Cheese: In a medium bowl, using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a handheld electric mixer, beat together the softened unsalted butter and softened brick-style cream cheese until the mixture is light, fluffy, and completely smooth. This usually takes 2-3 minutes. Make sure there are no lumps of butter or cream cheese.
- Add Sweetness and Flavor: Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar to the butter and cream cheese mixture, beating on low speed until fully incorporated. Once the sugar is mostly mixed in, increase the speed to medium and beat until the frosting is smooth and creamy. Finally, stir in the pure vanilla extract until just combined.
Assembling Your Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies:
Once both the cookies and frosting are ready and the cookies are completely cool, it’s time to assemble your delicious treats.
- Pair the Cookies: Select similarly sized cookies and pair them up.
- Frost One Side: Take one cookie from a pair and spread an even layer of cream cheese frosting on its flat underside. You can use a knife, an offset spatula, or even pipe the frosting using a pastry bag for a neater look.
- Top with Another: Gently place the second cookie on top of the frosting, flat side down, pressing down lightly to create a sandwich. Repeat with the remaining cookies and frosting.
Storage Instructions for Freshness
Due to the dairy content in the luscious cream cheese frosting, proper storage is key to keeping these carrot cake cookies fresh and delicious. Once your carrot cake sandwich cookies are frosted, they must be stored in the refrigerator.
- Refrigeration: Place the frosted cookies in an airtight container. They will remain fresh and delightful for up to five days when stored in the refrigerator. This helps prevent the frosting from spoiling and keeps the cookies moist.
- Serving Tip: For the best flavor and texture, allow the cookies to come to room temperature for about 15-20 minutes before serving. This softens the frosting slightly, making it even more enjoyable.
- Freezing (Unfrosted): If you want to make the cookies ahead of time, you can bake the cookies and freeze them unfrosted in a single layer in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature before frosting and assembling.
- Freezing (Frosted – with caution): While generally not recommended due to potential changes in frosting texture upon thawing, you *can* freeze frosted cookies for shorter periods (1-2 weeks) in a very well-sealed container. Thaw them slowly in the refrigerator overnight. Be aware the frosting might soften or weep slightly.
Expert Baking Tips for Perfect Carrot Cake Cookies
Even with a simple cake mix recipe, a few clever tips can elevate your carrot cake sandwich cookies from good to absolutely amazing. Pay attention to these details for the best possible outcome:
- Dough Consistency: The cookie dough, made from a cake mix, will naturally be a bit sticky. For consistent cookie sizes and easier handling, I highly recommend using a cookie scoop (also known as a disher). A 1.5 to 2-tablespoon scoop is ideal for achieving uniform cookies that will pair nicely for sandwiches. If you don’t have a scoop, lightly flour your hands or use two spoons.
- Achieving Smooth Tops: While not strictly necessary for taste, gently smoothing the tops of your scooped cookie dough balls with a lightly floured finger or the back of a spoon before baking can help create a flatter, prettier surface. This makes them easier to stack and frost evenly, resulting in a more professional-looking sandwich cookie.
- Ingredient Temperature for Frosting: The most crucial tip for a perfectly smooth cream cheese frosting is to ensure your butter and cream cheese are adequately softened to room temperature. This means setting them out on the counter for at least 30 minutes to an hour (or longer if your kitchen is cool) before you start mixing. Cold ingredients will lead to a lumpy frosting that’s difficult to spread.
- Don’t Overmix Frosting: While you want your frosting to be smooth, be careful not to overmix it once the confectioners’ sugar is added. Overmixing can incorporate too much air, making the frosting too soft, or in extreme cases, cause the cream cheese to break down. Mix until just combined and creamy.
- Cooling is Key: Ensure your cookies are completely cool before applying the cream cheese frosting. Even slightly warm cookies will cause the frosting to melt and slide, creating a messy situation. Patience during the cooling process will be rewarded with beautifully assembled sandwich cookies.
- Parchment Paper Power: Using parchment paper or a silicone mat on your baking sheet not only prevents sticking but also helps the cookies bake more evenly and makes cleanup a breeze.
- Frosting Ahead of Time: You can certainly make the cream cheese frosting ahead of time. Prepare it, cover it tightly, and refrigerate for up to 2-3 days. Before using, let it come back to room temperature and give it a quick whip with your mixer to restore its creamy consistency.
More Carrot Cake Desserts to Satisfy Your Cravings!
If these carrot cake sandwich cookies spark a deeper love for all things carrot cake, you’re in luck! There’s a whole world of spiced, sweet, and satisfying carrot-infused desserts to explore. Each offers a unique take on the beloved classic, perfect for any occasion or craving. Dive into these other fantastic recipes:
- Carrot Cake Cupcakes: These individual portions of fluffy, spiced cake topped with generous swirls of cream cheese frosting are perfect for parties or when you want a delightful single serving.
- Pineapple Carrot Cake: For an extra layer of moisture and a hint of tropical sweetness, this version incorporates crushed pineapple, making for an incredibly tender and flavorful cake.
- Classic Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting: Sometimes, you just can’t beat a traditional, perfectly baked carrot cake. This recipe delivers all the timeless comfort and richness you expect from a classic.
- Baked Carrot Cake Donuts: Start your day (or enjoy a delightful afternoon treat) with these healthier, baked donuts infused with carrot cake goodness, often finished with a light glaze or cream cheese drizzle.
Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies
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Ingredients
Carrot Cake Cookies:
- 1 box (15.25 oz) carrot cake mix
- 1/3 cup oil
- 2 large eggs
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 1/4 cup butter , softened (half a stick)
- 4 ounces cream cheese , softened
- 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
Carrot Cake Cookies:
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and set aside.
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In a large bowl, whisk together the carrot cake mix, oil, and eggs until well combined. Using a cookie scoop, drop the dough (about 2 tablespoons each) on the prepared baking sheet.
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Bake for 11-12 minutes.
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Remove cookies from the oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Remove cookies from the baking sheet and transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Cream Cheese Frosting:
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Using a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or handheld mixer, beat the butter and cream cheese until smooth. Add the confectioner’s sugar and vanilla and mix until well combined.
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Once the cookies have cooled, evenly distribute the frosting on the flat side of half of the cookies. Place the other half of the cookies, flat side down, on top of the frosting.
Notes