Copycat Crumbl Carrot Cake Cookie Recipe – This Week's Menu
This carrot cake cookie elevated everything I thought I knew about spice cookies! Two layers pack warm spices with tropical coconut and pineapple while the vanilla cream cheese frosting and chopped pecans create perfect texture contrast.
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- all-purpose flour 2.5 cups
- cornstarch 2 tbsp
- baking powder 1.25 tsp
- baking soda 0.5 tsp
- ground cinnamon 2 tsp
- ground nutmeg 0.5 tsp
- salt 0.5 tsp
- unsalted butter 1 stick
- cream cheese (softened) 4 oz
- light brown sugar 1 cup
- granulated sugar 0.5 cup
- large egg 2 pieces
- vanilla extract 2 tsp
- finely grated carrots 1.25 cups
- crushed pineapple (well-drained) 0.33 cup
- sweetened shredded coconut 0.33 cup
- toasted chopped pecans 0.33 cup
Seasonings/Sauce
- cream cheese (softened) 6 oz
- unsalted butter (softened) 0.33 cup
- powdered sugar 2.25 cups
- vanilla extract 1 tsp
- pinch salt 1 tsp
- extra toasted chopped pecans (for topping) 0.25 cup
Nutrition summary
Carbohydrates
68 g
53%
Protein
7 g
5%
Fat
26 g
42%
Cooking steps
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1
Preheat oven to 350°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment. This helps cookies stay thick and soft, just like Crumbl's.
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2
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together until well blended.
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3
In a large bowl, cream together 1 stick butter, 4 oz cream cheese, brown sugar, and granulated sugar on medium-high for 2–3 minutes, until super light and fluffy. This mirrors Crumbl’s rich, soft crumb.
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4
Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix in grated carrots, pineapple, coconut, and pecans until just incorporated. Gradually mix in dry ingredients on low speed. Dough will be thick.
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5
Divide the dough into 8 large balls (about 4.5 oz each). Place spaced well on trays and pat into 1-inch-thick rounds, 4 inches wide. Chill dough balls in fridge for at least 1 hour – this step is essential to keep that signature tall, soft Crumbl shape.
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6
Bake cookies one tray at a time for 15–17 minutes, just until edges are set but centers look slightly underbaked. Let cool on trays 10 minutes for further carryover baking. Crumbl’s magic comes from that slightly gooey center!
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7
While cooling, make the frosting: Beat 6 oz cream cheese and 1/3 cup softened butter until smooth. Slowly add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until creamy and thick.
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8
Once cookies are fully cool, generously frost each cookie with swirl style. Sprinkle with extra toasted chopped pecans for that perfect Crumbl finish.
Personalized Q&A
Q. Does this actually taste like the Crumbl Carrot Cake Cookie?
Absolutely! The combination of cream cheese in the dough, cornstarch for chewiness, crushed pineapple, coconut, and generous spices replicates Crumbl’s signature tender, thick, and flavorful carrot cake cookie. The chilled, oversized cookies and swirled cream cheese frosting further mimic the bakery version.
Q. Why did my cookies spread too thin instead of staying tall like Crumbl’s?
Flat cookies are usually caused by not chilling the dough properly or baking on a warm pan. For Crumbl-like thickness, refrigerate shaped dough balls for at least 1 hour before baking. Also, make sure you measure the flour and cornstarch accurately for ideal structure.
Q. Can I substitute all-purpose flour for another flour in this recipe?
Stick with all-purpose flour here for the best copycat texture. Bread flour may make the cookies tougher, and cake flour can cause excess spreading. The all-purpose flour plus cornstarch gives the soft, thick result Crumbl is known for.
Q. How many calories are in each Crumbl Carrot Cake Cookie copycat?
Each oversize cookie is about 140g and contains approximately 515 kcal, with 68g carbohydrates (53%), 7g protein (5%), and 26g fat (42%) per serving.
Q. How should I store or freeze these cookies and frosting?
Store frosted cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Unfrosted cookies or shaped dough balls can be frozen (tightly wrapped) for up to 2 months. Thaw before serving, and always apply frosting after cookies return to room temperature.
