Loaded Carrot Cake Oatmeal Cookies
Yields: 15 cookies
 
These chewy oatmeal cookies taste just like a slice of classic carrot cake! They’ll keep for at least a week if stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator—if they last that long!
  • for the cookies
  • 1 cup (100g) instant oats (measured like this and gluten-free if necessary)
  • ¾ cup (90g) whole wheat or gluten-free* flour (measured like this)
  • 1 ½ tsp baking powder
  • 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 2 tbsp (28g) coconut oil or unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 1 large egg, room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (120mL) pure maple syrup
  • ¾ cup (70g) freshly grated carrot (about 2 medium, peeled first!)
  • ¼ cup (61g) finely diced pineapple (fresh or canned in 100% juice and drained)
  • 3 tbsp (30g) raisins
  • 2 tbsp (14g) finely chopped pecans
  • for the drizzle (optional)
  • 1 tbsp (14g) Greek yogurt cream cheese, softened
  • 1 ½ tsp nonfat milk
  • 8-12 drops vanilla crème stevia, or to taste
  1. Whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, egg, and vanilla. Stir in the maple syrup. Add in the flour mixture, stirring just until incorporated. Gently fold in the carrots, pineapple, raisins, and pecans. Chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes.
  2. Preheat the oven to 325°F, and line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
  3. Drop the cookie dough into 15 rounded scoops onto the prepared sheet, and flatten to about half of their original height using a small spatula. Bake at 325°F for 11-14 minutes. Cool on the pan for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
  4. Just before serving, prepare the drizzle by stirring together the cream cheese, milk, and stevia in a small bowl. Transfer the mixture to a zip-topped bag, cut off a tiny piece of one corner, and drizzle on top of the cooled cookies.
Notes: It’s extremely important to measure both the oats and flour correctly using the spoon and level method or a kitchen scale. Too much of either will dry out the cookies and leave them crumbly instead of chewy.

Instant oats are also known as quick-cooking or minute oats. They come in large canisters, just like old-fashioned oats. They are not the ones in the small flavored packets of oatmeal. To make your own, add the same amount of old-fashioned oats to a food processor, and pulse 10-12 times.

For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free instant oats and the following gluten-free flour blend: ½ cup (60g) millet flour, 2 tablespoons (15g) tapioca flour, 2 tablespoons (17g) brown rice flour, and ½ teaspoon xanthan gum. Most store-bought gluten-free flour blends will work as well, if measured like this.

Do not substitute store-bought pre-shredded carrots. They are thicker and drier, and they do not soften while baking.

Neufchâtel (⅓-less fat) cream cheese may be substituted for the Greek yogurt cream cheese.

Any milk may be substituted for the nonfat milk.

You may substitute 1 ½ teaspoons of maple syrup, honey, or agave for the vanilla crème stevia. If you use this substitution, omit the milk as well.

For a plain version (and video!), see my regular carrot cake oatmeal cookie recipe.

For videos, more tips, and answers to all other questions, including substitutions, see my Oatmeal Cookie FAQ page.

{gluten-free, clean eating, low fat, low calorie}
Recipe by Amy's Healthy Baking at https://amyshealthybaking.com/blog/2016/03/03/loaded-carrot-cake-oatmeal-cookies/