Carrot Cake Nest Cookies

  5.0 – 3 reviews  • Coconut Recipes
Level: Easy
Total: 1 hr 30 min
Active: 1 hr
Yield: About 30 cookies

Ingredients

  1. 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
  2. 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  3. 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  4. Pinch of ground cloves
  5. 1/4 teaspoon salt
  6. 1 stick unsalted butter, at room temperature
  7. 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  8. 1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
  9. 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
  10. 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  11. 3/4 cup finely grated carrots (about 2)
  12. 1/4 cup finely chopped toasted walnuts
  13. 1 3/4 cups shredded sweetened coconut
  14. 2 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
  15. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature
  16. 1/8 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  17. 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
  18. Blue and white jelly beans, for topping

Instructions

  1. Make the cookies: Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper; set aside. Whisk the flour, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the egg yolk and vanilla and beat until well combined, then beat in the carrots and walnuts. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture until just combined. 
  2. Roll tablespoonfuls of dough into balls, then roll in the coconut. Arrange 1 inch apart on the prepared baking sheets. Make a deep indentation in the centers with the handle of a wooden spoon. Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are set and the coconut is golden brown, 22 to 25 minutes. Let cool completely on the pans. 
  3. Meanwhile, make the filling: Beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla in a medium bowl with a whisk until light and fluffy. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar until fluffy. Refrigerate until ready to use. Transfer the filling to a resealable plastic bag. Snip a corner and pipe the filling into the indentation of each cookie. Top with jelly beans.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 of 30 servings
Calories 124
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Carbohydrates 14 g
Dietary Fiber 1 g
Sugar 9 g
Protein 1 g
Cholesterol 18 mg
Sodium 44 mg

Reviews

Susan Burton
This recipe was easy and delicious! So adorable.
Cindy Sanders MD
These are terrific meaning easy, fast and flavorful. They keep well in the refrigerator too (7-10 days). Not too sweet; just right. Good to use an ice cream scooper for portion size.
Emily Johnson
These cookies were ADORABLE – and came out better looking than the picture online!  Plus they tasted amazing. If you love carrot cake, you will love these cookies.  The only change I made was to use white and blue chocolate pearls for the eggs instead of jelly beans – I thought they looked a lot nicer and tasted good with the cookie.  

 

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