Low calorie carrot cake cookies

There’s no better feeling than being able to enjoy two of your favorite desserts in one, all whilst sticking to your calorie deficit! I present to you – the BEST low calorie carrot cake cookies – EVER! These cookies are just 95 calories each and pack all of the delicious flavors of a carrot cake into a neat little cookie.

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This low calorie carrot cake is one of the most popular recipes on my blog, year round. I have never understood the carrot cake slander! A soft, moist and perfectly spiced sponge with shredded carrot throughout and topped with cream cheese frosting? What is there not to love? I will always be carrot cake’s number one fan!

Now imagine all the insanely delicious flavors of carrot cake made into cookie form. It is truly what low calorie dessert dreams are made of. All the simplicity of making cookies but with all the pleasure of eating cake – all whilst staying within your calorie deficit! Plus, these cookies are oil-free, sugar-free and can easily be made gluten-free.

These low calorie carrot cake cookies are so easy to make, the delicious cookie base is infused with spices and shredded carrot, cooled, and then topped with a smooth and rich cream cheese frosting. Each cookie has just 95 calories and with how easy it is to make, prepare yourself to make a batch every week (if not multiple times a week ;))!

Ingredients

Exact ingredient quantities can be found at the bottom of this page.

To make these low calorie carrot cake cookies you will need:

Unsweetened applesauce – This recipe doesn’t use any butter, oil or egg because applesauce does all the work! It is soft and almost runny which perfectly mimics softened butter.

0 calorie brown sugar – I find that this 0 calorie brown sugar alternative is perfect for cookies and cakes where you’d normally use brown sugar. It tastes almost identical and contains 0 calories! You can use any 0 calorie granulated sweetener here but be mindful of the conversion.

Vanilla extract – No cookie recipe is complete without a dash of vanilla.

Plain/all-purpose flour – This recipe calls for good ‘ol plain or all-purpose flour.

Baking soda – To help the cookies spread and rise.

Salt – Just a pinch.

Carrot – Both shredded or grated carrot will work for this recipe.

Spices – Classic carrot cake spices including cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

Philadelphia lightest – To make the cream cheese frosting. The closest alternative to Philadelphia lightest is 3% fat cream cheese. If you are unable to get your hands on it, light cream cheese will work too but the calories will increase slightly.

0 calorie powdered sugar – To make the frosting.

How to make low calorie carrot cake cookies

1. Pre-heat oven to 180ºC (350ºF). Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the applesauce, 0 calorie brown sugar and vanilla extract until smooth and well combined.
3. Add in the flour, salt, baking soda, spices and fold until well combined. Fold in the shredded carrot.
4. Divide the dough equally between 3 cookies and place onto he prepared baking tray. Flatten each cookie slightly and bake for 8-10 minutes.
5. Allow the cookies to cool on the tray for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.
6. Make the frosting by whisking together the cream cheese, 0 calorie icing sugar and vanilla until smooth.
7. Frost the cooled cookies and enjoy!

Storage

This is a small batch recipe making just 3 cookies but they can be made in bigger quantities and stored for perfect snack prep. Frosted cookies can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Unfrosted cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.

more low calorie cookies…