Description
Carrot Cake Whoopie Pies are soft, cake-like sandwich cookies filled with a tangy cream cheese frosting. Packed with warm spices and shredded carrots, these handheld treats combine the flavors of carrot cake with the fun format of a whoopie pie—perfect for parties, gifts, or casual indulgence.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups grated carrots
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or raisins
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (for frosting)
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp heavy cream or milk (for frosting consistency)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
- In a separate large bowl, cream the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together until light and fluffy.
- Beat in the eggs and vanilla extract until fully incorporated.
- Gradually mix in the dry ingredients until just combined.
- Fold in the grated carrots and any optional add-ins.
- Using a small cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop evenly sized rounds of batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them 2 inches apart.
- Bake for 10–12 minutes, or until the tops are set and spring back when touched lightly.
- Cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
- To make the frosting, beat the cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Add powdered sugar and cream or milk, and beat until fluffy and spreadable.
- Pair up the cooled cookies and spread or pipe the frosting on one cookie, then top with another to create a sandwich.
Notes
- For best results, chill the frosting slightly before assembling.
- Use a cookie scoop to keep the pies evenly sized.
- These can be made a day ahead—just assemble before serving for the freshest texture.
- Let the whoopie pies come to room temperature before serving for optimal softness.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 whoopie pie
- Calories: 270
- Sugar: 20g
- Sodium: 170mg
- Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
