Cream Cheese-Stuffed Carrot Cake Cookies

Cream cheese + carrot = a match made in heaven. Follow the recipe below for perfectly dreamy cookies!

Ingredients:
1 cup instant oats
¾ cup whole wheat flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
1 ½ tsp cinnamon
⅛ tsp salt
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup maple syrup
¾ cup grated carrots

Cream Cheese Filling/Frosting:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp butter, softened
2 tbsp Easter Bunny’s Delight Almond Butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
¼ cup powdered sugar

Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 oz cream cheese, softened
½ cup butter, softened
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 ½ cups powdered sugar

Instructions:
1. Start off by making the cream cheese filling. Beat together the cream cheese and butter in a medium bowl until fluffy. Then add in the almond butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar, and continue to beat until fully combined.
2. Scoop the filling (~1 tbsp each) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Scoop about 9 dollops of the filling. Place in the freezer while you make the cookie dough.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
4. In a separate bowl, whisk together the melted butter, egg, and vanilla. Then, stir in the maple syrup.
5. Pour the wet mixture into the dry, and use a wooden spoon to mix until just incorporated. Fold in the carrots. Chill the dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 325F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Once the dough has chilled, remove the cream cheese filling scoops from the freezer.
8. Using a small cookie scoop, scoop the dough and flatten in your hands. Place a dollop of the cream cheese filling in the middle, and then cover with another scoop of dough. Use your hands to shape the dough around the filling, and roll into a ball. Place on the prepared baking sheet and repeat.
9. Bake at 325F for 13-16 minutes. Let cool on the pan for 15 minutes, then transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
10. While the cookies are cooling, beat together the ingredients for the frosting in a medium bowl.
11. Once cold, spread the cream cheese frosting on top of each cookie.

Enjoy!

Recipe by wellmadebykiley for American Dream Nut Butter