Carrot Cake Shortbread

  Desserts

I really love carrot cake and wanted to make a cookie that had the same flavors. These comforting cookies are just the ticket! Cinnamon, maple and vanilla make them perfect for the holidays.

Carrot Cake Shortbread

Average Rating: 4

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 35 min. + chilling Bake: 15 min./batch + cooling
YIELD: 4 dozen.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup grated carrot
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • ICING:
  • 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts, toasted

Instructions

  • 1. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in carrot and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture.
  • 2. Divide dough in half. Shape each into a disk; wrap and refrigerate 1 hour or until firm enough to roll.
  • 3. Preheat oven to 325°. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough to 1/4-in. thickness. Cut with a floured 1-3/4-in. scalloped or fluted round cookie cutter. Place 1 in. apart on greased baking sheets.
  • 4. Bake 12-14 minutes or until edges are light brown. (For a crisper texture, bake cookies 13-15 minutes.) Remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
  • 5. In a small bowl, mix confectioners' sugar and maple syrup until smooth; drizzle over cookies. Sprinkle with walnuts. Let stand until set.

Nutrition Facts

1 cookie: 79 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 44mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein.

Tags