CARROT SPICE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Carrot Spice Thumbprint Cookies image

Carrot cake is a family favorite, and these delicious cookies taste just like it with shredded carrots, dried cranberries, toasted walnuts, cinnamon and cloves. And they're topped with a rich cream cheese frosting. Who could resist? Each cookie is like eating a piece of carrot cake, but with no fork needed! —Susan Bickta, Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 40m

Yield 5 dozen.

Number Of Ingredients 20

Ingredients

1 cup margarine, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs, room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1-1/2 cups shredded carrots
2/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 cup dried cranberries
FROSTING:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Additional confectioners' sugar

Steps:

Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, cream together margarine and sugars until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Beat in eggs and vanilla. In another bowl, whisk flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt, baking soda and cloves; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Stir in carrots, walnuts and cranberries., Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls 2 in. apart onto parchment-lined baking sheets. Press a deep indentation in center of each with the back of a 1/2-teaspoon measure., Bake until edges begin to brown, 10-12 minutes. Reshape indentations as needed. Cool on pans 5 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely., For frosting, beat butter, cream cheese, confectioners' sugar and vanilla until blended. To serve, fill each cookie with about 1-1/2 teaspoons frosting; sprinkle with additional confectioners' sugar. Refrigerate leftover filled cookies.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 167 calories, Fat 9g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 17mg cholesterol, Sodium 146mg sodium, Carbohydrate 21g carbohydrate (14g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.