Healthy Carrot Cake Cookies
Packed with good for you ingredients, these healthy carrot cake cookies are awesome for breakfast or dessert! Perfectly chewy and filled with carrots, pecans, coconut and raisins. Dairy free, gluten free and vegetarian.
It’s Monday morning and we’re talking cookies. Because cookies make everything better.
They will cheer you up from those Monday-morning-start-of-the-week blues.
If we’re being technical, it’s actually Sunday night as I’m writing this. When that storm cloud settles in and you realize that the fun of the weekend is coming to a close.
But, cookies. Healthier cookies!
Healthier carrot cake cookies to be exact.
These are basically just a slight twist on my healthy chocolate chip cookies that I made a few months back.
I tweaked the base recipe just a tad by altering the ratio of honey to maple syrup, making these a bit sturdier than the chocolate chip ones. Because I’m a perfectionist and that always bothered me about my original recipe.
And then I went ahead and stuffed these with the good stuff – shredded carrots, plenty of juicy raisins, lots of coconut and a nice amount of spice.
So go ahead and enjoy one of these bad boys warm straight from the oven – with no guilt.
They will help beat even the worst of the Monday blues.
Additional Cookie Recipes You Might Enjoy:
- Flourless Peanut Butter Trail Mix Cookies
- Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Banana Bread Breakfast Cookies
- Chocolate Cherry Breakfast Cookies
Did you make this recipe? Rate and review it down below! I’d love to hear from you.
Healthy Carrot Cake Cookies
Packed with good for you ingredients, these healthy carrot cake cookies are awesome for breakfast or dessert! Perfectly chewy and filled with carrots, pecans, coconut and raisins. Dairy free, gluten free and vegetarian.
Ingredients
- 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour OR 1 cup almond meal*
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- ½ cup ground flaxseed
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 tablespoons melted coconut oil**
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup raisins
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes or shredded coconut
- ¼ cup chopped raw pecans
- 1 medium carrot, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the whole wheat pastry flour (or almond meal), oats, flaxseed, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and sea salt. In a medium bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, honey, applesauce, coconut oil and vanilla extract.
- Add the wet ingredients to the bowl with the dry and mix until just combined. Gently fold in the raisins, coconut, pecans and shredded carrot.
- Scoop about 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons of dough and drop onto the prepared cookie sheet (I used my large cookie scoop). Gently flatten the cookies slightly. You can space them pretty close together as they won’t really spread while baking.
- Bake for about 11 to 13 minutes, until lightly golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool directly on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
*Make sure that you use either the whole wheat pastry flour OR the almond meal (do not use both!). It works great either way but the dough will be slightly wetter with the almond meal (again, it still works, just make sure you measure everything correctly).
To keep these gluten free - use the almond meal and not the pastry flour.
**Melt the coconut oil first and then measure out the 3 tablespoons (otherwise you may use too much).
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 16 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 156Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 106mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 3g
Nutrition data shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice. Nutrition info shown uses the almond meal and not the pastry flour.
I’m on a clean eating kick and was sad give up cookies, not anymore! Thanks Ashley.
Enjoy!! Thanks Tracy 🙂
Yay for carrot cake cookies, especially healthy ones! I used to love Chuck. I’ve been thinking about getting a Netflix subscription because I feel like I’m missing out on House of Cards and Orange is the New Black.
These look delicious Ashley! I recently made some carrot cake cookies too, but yours look much healthier than mine without sacrificing any of the flavor 🙂
The next episode feature is why I never get any sleep! These cookies look so good Ashley! Carrots make them healthy right? lol. these are perfect for spring. DID YOU HEAR THAT SPRING??
Delicious and healthy!
I love carrot cake and making them into healthier cookies is such an awesome idea! Love all the wholesome ingredients in here and cookies that I can enjoy without feeling guilty about would totally make everything better 🙂
Yes, this is a great idea, carrot cake cookies…these cookies will be great as a snack.
Thanks for the recipe Ashely…have a wonderful week 😀
I’ll take a dozen, please! I really love carrot cake but I hardly ever make it. These cookies would be great because they are the perfect serving size and I don’t actually have to bake a whole cake to get the same great taste!
I just pinned them so I can eat them immediately! I love the idea of a carrot cake.. cookie!
Hey there lovely! These look so good! Carrot cake is my absolute favorite dessert (it was our wedding cake) so I can’t wait to make these cookies!
These look amazing!! I love love LOVE carrots!:) YUM! Thanks for sharing!!
Cookies do make everything better, especially these bad boys. And lightened-up? I’ll take a dozen please.
Cookies do make everything better! These look delicious! I’ve never made carrot cake cookies so I can’t wait to try them. 🙂
omg Ashley I watched the entire season 2 of House of Cards in one weekend because of those blasted 15 seconds! I just couldn’t say no…and I can’t say no to these cookies! Carrot cake is one of my faves and in a healthy cookie?! YES PLEASE!
haha I’m glad it’s not just me!!
I’m such a fan of any recipe with the words “healthy” and “cookie” in them haha. I’m totally hooked on Netflix’s House of Cards right now!
These are great Ashley! A perfect carrot cake fix without have to grease and line baking pans! Delicious.
I looove carrot cake, and carrot cake flavored things, and these cookies look just simply amazing! Love that you made them healthier too. Pinned!
Healthy cookies! Now you’re speaking my language. Especially because they’re carrot cake, one of my all time favorites.
I haven’t seen Chuck and I don’t have Netflix (because I know I would stuck like Chuck watching marathons) but one day (when life calms down…?) I’m hoping to catch up on Netflix shows like Orange is the New Black.
haha tell me about it. We actually got rid of cable and just got Netflix and Amazon to cut back on TV … and somehow now I find myself watching more… lol
I’d take a few of these to work with me on a Monday morning … a lovely snack like this would definitely cheer me up! I can’t wait to get Netflix when I move to England to watch all these amazing series people are recommending. I think I’d be like you though and get totally addicted. My hubby and I were tired the whole time we were watching Breaking Bad a while back (which wasn’t that long as we got through it so quickly!)
That’s the danger of Netflix : ) The seasons are just there … and no commercials … so we just get so sucked in!
SO excited about this recipe! I love carrot cake and I love healthy cookies, so these have my name right on ’em. Pinned!
I love carrot cake and I love cookies – pinning! Also, good to know I’m not the only one who writes my Monday post on Sunday night 🙂
Okay seriously love the idea of carrot cake cookies and LOVE that they are healthy!!! Also Chuck, oh my gosh I’m obsessed – I watched 3 episodes right after a row last night and completely blame it on that 15 second timer!
Yes! We just watched a few more last night! It’s so addictive!
These cookies look seriously good! I could easily have these for breakfast, guilt-free.
what a fun cookie! so creative 🙂 and i totally hear you on the binge watching tv thing…we had a snow day today(!!!!) and i just watched 5 episodes of a new tv show. ooops. 🙂
Thanks for a new Netflix suggestion! These cookies look like the perfect ticket to Monday morning blues. I love how they are stuffed with so many yummy things, and especially that there is coconut flakes! I can never get enough coconut.
Me either!
What a genius idea- you’ve combined my two favourite bakes! Definitely going to try these- and it’s great that they’re better for you 🙂
SO cool!! I love carrot cake so I am pretty certain that I would love these too!!
I know exactly what you mean by that Sunday night storm cloud! I think we should alternate a 5 day work week/2 day weekend with a 5 day weekend/2day work week-what do you think?
Wouldn’t that be fantastic?
🙂
Also fantastic are these cookies – seriously, they are so healthy, I think I will call them “breakfast rounds” and eat 5!
Ha! Um yes, that would be amazing. Let’s make it happen : )
Carrot cake is my favorite! Love that you turned it into healthier cookies!
Such a great recipe that incorporates great ingredients.
Can’t wait to give this a try! They look delicious and healthy!
These cookies look awesome! Love this recipe!
Here’s to healthy cookies that you can eat for breakfast and not feel about it (and I really would eat these for breakfast)! I’m crazy for carrot cake anything, so I’m definitely in. Pinning, and have a happy Monday, Ashley! 🙂
Yes, these are perfect for breakfast! That may have happened quite a bit while I was testing the recipe : ) More like a lot a bit… lol
I agree…cookies are made for Mondays and Mondays are made for cookies. These look perfect! 🙂 ela
I love any lightened-up version of a classic! And carrot cake cookies sound so much more manageable than a big cake. I tried banana bread cookies a while back and fell in love. I bet these bites of carrot cake cookies would totally satisfy that same kind of craving for the cake. Looks great, Ashley!
Thanks Monica! Oooo I need to make some banana bread cookies next!
These are adorable! So wholesome that I may just call them breakfast cookies so I can eat one or three or five for brekkie…Pinned!
Good Morning, Ashley,
Throughly enjoy your cooking blog! Love the idea of Carrot Cake Cookies. Help! I want to add pineapple to the recipe. What changes should I make?
Thanks!
Earlene
Hi Earlene! My first thought is to sub in crushed pineapple for the applesauce (the same amount) … I’ve never tried it myself but I’m thinking it could work! You could also easily just add in some chopped dried pineapple. You’ll have to let me know if you try either!
These cookies look and sound amazing, Ashley! I’m all about healthy dessert these days and I love the fact that they can be made gluten free by using almond meal!
Well since they are healthier…I will take them all 🙂
Yay! I SO love this recipe…I’ve just recently discovered carrot cake and now I’m completely sold so I can’t wait to try it out into cookie form, especially if they’re a little bit healthier and guilt-free!
xo, Elisa