The first time I made these cookies, I was in cooking class in high school! My Mom used to make them during holidays, like at Christmas, New Years and Thanksgiving. I think she got the recipe from her Auntie. I love the flavour of these cookies. They do not taste like carrots! The main flavour is orange from the icing. I have tried them with lemon instead of orange in the icing, and it worked out well too.

Here is what they should look like when they are baked. These are soft cake-like cookies. This recipe makes about 40 cookies. If making ahead of time, I usually freeze them without the icing, and ice them before serving.

Carrot Cookies Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 cup mashed cooked carrots
• 1 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/4 cups gluten-free flour
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Cook enough carrots to make 1 cup of mashed carrots then set aside to cool.
2. Cream the butter and sugar together.
3. Add the egg and vanilla and mix well.
4. Add the dry ingredients: gluten-free flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well.
5. Add the cooled carrots and blend into the mixture.
6. On a baking tray, lined with parchment paper (ungreased), drop with a teaspoon onto the tray.
7. Bake for 12 - 15 minutes at 375 Farenheit. Till lightly golden. Let cool on wire racks.

Here is the Orange Icing recipe. As I stated before you can substitute lemon for the orange.

Orange Icing Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 2 Tablespoons gluten-free flour
• 1/3 cup orange juice
• 1 - 2 teaspoons grated orange rind
• 2 cups icing sugar

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a small pot, blend in the gluten-free flour.
2. Add the orange juice and grated rind. Mix well and cook on a low heat until the mixture thickens.
3. Add the icing sugar 1/2 a cup at at time, and beat until you have a nice smooth icing.
4. When the cookies are cool, ice them and enjoy.

My family loves these soft cake-like cookies. I often quadruple the icing recipe and use it on other baked goods. What is your favourite cookie?

Note: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Always seek out a medical opinion for medical concerns.