Inside-Out Carrot Cake Cookies
If you like carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, then you'll love these cookies.
(Makes approx. 12 cookies)


Ingredients:

Cookies: 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, softened 1/3 cup light brown sugar 1/3 cup sugar 1 large egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1 cup (2 medium) carrots, peeled and grated 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped (optional) 1/2 cup raisins Frosting: 4 oz cream cheese 2 tablespoons butter, softened 3/4 cups confectioners sugar

Directions:

1. Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 
2. Spray 2 baking sheets with non-stick spray.
3. Whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
4. In a large bowl, beat together butter, sugars, egg, and vanilla  with an electric mixer until pale and fluffy,
   about 2 minutes.
5. Mix in carrots, nuts, raisins and flour mixture with a wooden spoon and beat until well combined.
6. Drop 1 heaped tablespoon batter per cookie 2 inches apart on baking sheets and bake for 10 to 12 minutes
   or until cookies are lightly browned and springy to the touch.  Remember to switch position of sheets
   halfway through baking,
7. Cool cookies on sheets on racks 1 minute, then transfer cookies to racks to cool completely.
8. While cookies are baking, prepare frosting: With an electric mixer, blend the cream cheese, butter and confectioners sugar in a small bowl until smooth.
9. Sandwich flat sides of cookies together with a generous tablespoon of cream cheese filling in between.