Get the classic carrot cake flavor in an easy to make cookie! These easy carrot cake mix cookies have warm spices, bits of carrots and are topped with a homemade cream cheese frosting. These cookies are great any time of year but are especially a fun treat to make for your Easter holiday!
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Table of contents
Why These Cake Mix Carrot Cake Cookies Are The Best!
I love carrot cake with a delicious cream cheese frosting! Now with a simple boxed cake mix I can make individual servings of that yummy dessert in cookie form!
These soft cookies have a slight chewy texture and and amazing spiced flavor. This quick dessert is perfect for the holidays or any time you are needing a little something sweet!
Equipment Needed
hand mixer- this will definitely make your work easier when mixing the cream cheese frosting.
baking sheet- I like these rimmed cookie sheets because it prevents the cookies from sliding into the bottom of the oven.
Key Ingredients
carrot cake mix- I used Duncan Hines carrot cake mix that is a 15.25 ounce package. I think any brand of cake mix will work with similar results as long as the package is a similar weight. You could also use a spice cake mix and add a grated carrot.
Greek yogurt- adds moisture to the carrot cake cookie dough. I used whole fat plain Greek yogurt but a low fat variety will work too.
coconut oil- Coconut oil has a surprising neutral flavor and works well in baked goods in place of vegetable oil.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper. Empty the package of cake mix into a large bowl. Add the eggs, Greek yogurt, and coconut oil to the cake mix.
Use a hand mixer or electric mixer to mix the ingredients together until no dry streaks of cake mix remain. Be careful to not overmix the cookie dough. This is what creates light and fluffy cookies!
You can use a cookie scoop or spoon to portion out the cookie dough. I used a #40 size cookie scoop to scoop dough.
If you are using spoons you will want about 1 and ¾ tablespoons for the cookie dough ball. This does not have to be perfect and the cookies can be bigger or smaller depending on your preference. You may need to adjust the bake time depending on the size of the cookie.
Space the dough about two inches apart from each other to give room for the cookies to spread. Bake for 9-10 minutes and allow the cookies to cool for 1-2 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack.
While the cookies are cooling, make the cream cheese frosting. Make sure that your butter and cream cheese are room temperature. This will make it easier to mix with your hand or stand mixer.
Add the softened cream cheese and unsalted butter to a bowl and mix on medium speed. Once the butter and cream cheese are light and fluffy add the powdered sugar a ½ cup at a time and continue to mixing on low speed until the powdered sugar is incorporated. Add the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
Frost the baked cookies with cream cheese frosting. You can use a piping bag or just spread the frosting on top of the cookies with a knife. Sprinkle with walnuts or pecans or omit the nuts if there is a nut allergy in the family.
Storage Recommendations
Because these cookies have a cream cheese frosting the must be stored in a single layer in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Cookies are best eaten within 2-3 days.
You can freeze the cookies unfrosted wrapped in plastic wrap and placed in an airtight container for 1-2 months. If you want to freeze frosted cookies, freeze on a cookie sheet for a few hours or until the cream cheese hardens before stacking and wrapping the cookies in plastic wrap.
Substitutions and Additions
coconut oil- you can use any neutral flavored oil for the cookies. Vegetable oil is also a great choice.
carrots- carrot cake mix already has carrots added to the mix but you can add more grated carrots to the cookie dough.
nuts- add a ½ cup of walnuts or pecans to the cookie dough for a little extra crunch.
Greek yogurt- I love using Greek yogurt in baking. It adds a lot of moisture to the baked good. You can also use sour cream if you have that on hand.
white chocolate chips- are always a fun addition to carrot cake cookies.
Looking For Other Cookie Recipes? Try These!
Peanut Butter Marshmallow Cookies with Chocolate Chips
Easter Cookie Bars with Mini Eggs
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Cake Mix Carrot Cake Cookies
Equipment
- hand or stand mixer
- cookie sheet
Ingredients
Cake Mix Carrot Cake Cookies
- 1 (15.25) ounce box carrot cake cake mix
- 2 large eggs
- ⅓ cup Greek yogurt, or sour cream
- ⅓ cup coconut oil, or vegetable oil
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 8 ounce block cream cheese
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- 3 tablespoons walnuts, finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl add the cake mix, eggs, yogurt and coconut oil. Use a hand mixer or a spoon to mix together.
- Use a cookie scoop (I used a #40) or a spoon to portion out the cookies on a cookie sheet about 2 inches apart from each other.
- Bake in preheated oven for 9-11 minutes. Cookies will firm up on the cookie sheet as they cool. Cool for 2 minutes and transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat with remaining cookie dough.
- Once cookies are completely cool, make the cream cheese frosting.
- In a large bowl mix softened cream cheese and butter together with a hand mixer. Once light and fluffy add the powdered sugar ½ cup at a time. Drizzle in the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt.
- Mix for 60-90 seconds until all of the powdered sugar is mixed in and the frosting is smooth.
- Frost the cookies and sprinkle the tops with chopped walnuts. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
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