Raisins

Sunday, October 16, 2011


Here’s a formula for perfect cookies: take a Dorie Greenspan recipe for cookies based on the ingredients in carrot cake, and top it with a luscious cream cheese frosting.  Who in the world could possibly resist such perfect cookies?

For starters, both of my daughters.

I love raisins, both on their own and in nearly any kind of cake, muffin or cookie.  I don’t know how it’s possible for me to have raised two children who don’t care for raisins in baked goods.  And, in this case, “don’t care for” is a euphemism for “loathe”.  I’ve seen them pick raisins out of hot cross buns, cinnamon rolls and oatmeal cookies.  Not to mention carrot cake.

So I save this recipe – and others like it – for times when I’m baking for someone else.  This week, I volunteered to take baked goods to my writers’ association meeting.  Only after checking the fine print did I realize that would entail about ten dozen cookies.  So among other treats, I whipped up a batch of these wonderful cookies, iced them and saved a few for Andrew and me.  (Yes, he likes raisins too.  How can this odd recessive gene have been passed on to both of our kids?)

I will say this.  My oldest daughter may leave her hot-cross buns looking like a moth-eaten blanket, but she decorated some of the cookies with little icing carrots before photographing them for me.

In the end, I guess we can’t easily influence the taste buds of our loved ones.  I’m just grateful that we passed on our dominant genes for loving chocolate chip cookies.

Gingered Carrot Cookies
(adapted from Dorie Greenspan's Baking From My Home to Yours)

For cookies:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 sticks (3/4 cup) unsalted butter at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 large egg
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1 cup shredded carrots (about 3, peeled and trimmed)
1 cup sweetened shredded coconut
1 cup raisins

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Whisk together the flours, baking powder, salt and ginger.  

Beat the butter on medium speed until smooth.  Add white and brown sugar and beat for 2 minutes or so, then add the egg and vanilla and beat for another minute.

Add the dry ingredients and stir until mixed.  (Dough will be thick.)  Mix in the carrots, coconuts and raisins.

Spoon the dough onto the baking sheets in heaping tablespoonfuls leaving an inch between them.  Bake for 16 to 18 minutes.  Carefully transfer the cookies to racks to cool to room temperature.

For frosting:

8 ounces cream cheese
1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 1/2 to 4 cups icing sugar
1/2 cup shredded coconut

Beat the cream cheese and butter together until creamy.  Gradually add icing sugar and continue to beat until smooth.  Spread on cookies and sprinkle the coconut on top.


43 comments:

Natalie Aguirre said...

Looks like a great recipe.

You won THE WHITE ASSASSIN at Literary Rambles. E-mail me your address so I can send you your book.

Natalie
rmarma2@yahoo.com

Carol said...

I have that same gene. I'd have made them minus the raisins! They look so good, the carrots are so cute :)

Claudia said...

And my daughter would not eat the coconut. Go figure. I think they are lovely - and Dorie has never steered me wrong. Lucky association who gets these!

Valerie Gamine said...

The carrot decoration is adorable, your daughter did a great job!
I never used to like raisins, and even though they're still not my favourite ingredient to bake with, I'm starting to maybe see what all the fuss is about. So there is hope for everyone. :D

Cindy said...

Loving chocolate is so much more important than loving raisins! I really don't like raisins either but have found that dates make a delicious substitute. I am in love with dates!
But, I would eat these cookies, enjoy them and pick out not a raisin. They are filled with so many wonderful things!
Delicious.

lisa is cooking said...

I always think I'm the pickiest eater in the world, so I'm amazed when anyone dislikes something I enjoy. Maybe your daughters will eventually change their minds about raisins, but in the meantime you get to keep these great-looking cookies to yourself! ;)

Unknown said...

I could not resist these myself, but yes some do hate raisins!

Belinda said...

Great gene to pass on, especially if the penchant lends itself to these! Carrot...ginger...raisins - and simply adorable!

sally said...

I certainly wouldn't be able to resist these cookies! I love love love carrot cake (with raisins) and cream cheese frosting!

Golden Eagle said...

I absolutely love raisins . . . LOL.

Thanks for the recipe!

Aldy said...

Oooh...Cute cookies, Beth! I absolutely love the little carrots on top. Gorgeous flavors :) Hope you're having a great day!

Aldy.

scrambledhenfruit said...

I'm afraid I have to side with your daughters on the raisin issue! I like to eat raisins by themselves, but I don't care for them in baked goods. I often substitute dried cranberries or cherries, which I love! The cookies with their little carrots on top sound scrumptious, otherwise. :)

Jess said...

These are so cute! My two-year-old seems to have inherited her tastebuds from her Daddy. He/she can each eat a 12 oz. ribeye and a side of bacon :)

Anonymous said...

What a great idea! But, I'd have to keep the raisins out as well.

Stina said...

It's a good thing it's dinner time 'cause I'm suddenly hungry. ;)

GratefulPrayerThankfulHeart said...

I couldn't get a raisin near my lips until I was MUCH older. Didn't like the way they looked or how they tasted.

One day I ate an oatmeal cookie with... raisins. Slowly I was able to tolerate raisins. Now... I love them! Amazing I know.

One of my daughters never liked raisins, sweet potatoes or tomatoes. Today, as an adult, she likes sweet potatoes, can get down tomatoes but still can't do raisins. I told her in about 10 more years she will love them :)

Your Gingered Carrot Cookies look fantastic!

Anonymous said...

I wouldn't be able to resist them. I love raisins! They're really cute with the little carrots on top.

Bonnie said...

I will happily devour a couple. They look fabulous! The carrots are precious! Carrot cake is one of my favorite cakes!

Anonymous said...

Delicious!! I love carrot cake and raisin cookies (but not as much as my Dad!!). I'll have to make these for him sometime!! :)

Anonymous said...

LOVING the idea of a carrot cake cookie. Especially since I do love the flavor of carrot cake, but I ALWAYS eat it because of the frosting :)

grace said...

raisins are such a divisive little ingredient! i happen to love golden raisins, but i find regular dark raisins to be pretty gross. this batch of cookies, though? completely fun and tasty!

Beth said...

You're right Grace, raisins are completely divisive! It's interesting to read the comments and see how many people have such strong opinions about them.
You gave me hope when I read your comments, Lorraine. When I was a kid I didn't like sweet potatoes either, and now they're one of my favourite vegetables. Neither of my kids like sweet potatoes, so maybe they'll grow into liking them, as well as raisins!

Barbara said...

I'm smiling as I write this, Beth. My daughter can't stand raisins! Now when did that happen? Tastes change, don't they? One of mine used to hate mushrooms, but loves them now.
I'd love your cookie. Good idea to serve it when the kids aren't around.
And Grace's comment is interesting because I'm the opposite. I don't like golden raisins as well as the dark.

Lorraine said...

Very funny....my kids and husband do not like raisins either. I just made apple squares with raisins that no one will touch but me. These cookies sound amazing. I love the added touch of the icing carrot your daughter gave them:)

Joanne said...

I feel like carrot cake really needs raisins but that's a recent decision...my younger self definitely hated them! If you ever have a batch of these you need to get rid of, my door is always open!

chow and chatter said...

fun cookies bet the other writers loved it

Mary said...

Such pretty cookies! (and your kiddos are crazy, btw. I LOVE raisins in cookies!)

Liz That Skinny Chick Can Bake said...

Beth, these are so cute! I can take or leave raisins, but I'd definitely eat them in your gorgeous cookies!!

Jeanne said...

Maybe your daughters' tastes will change. There are plenty of things I like now that I loathed when I was younger! These cookies look spectacular. Carrot cake is one of my favorites, and you can't go wrong with frosting on a cookie!

Elaine said...

What a cute story, Beth. Those cookies are just so pretty! I really love carrot cake, but have never made carrot cake cookies, so I am going to bookmark this so I can make them soon. In my house it is not the raisins that are an issue - it is the frosting. :)

Vicki Bensinger said...

I love carrot cake and when I make it we devour it. Leave it to Dorie to come up with this idea. Now I can make my carrot cake into cookies and just eat enough of it to take that sweet tooth edge off.

Thanks for sharing and great photo!

Patty Price said...

I've been known to eat the raisins out of a cookie and left the rest behind! I have to say your sweet little carrot cake cookies would not be left behind;-)

Miriam said...

They look and sound amazing! Your lovely daughters are missing out :), Miriam@Meatless Meals For Meat Eaters

Reeni said...

I love the idea of a carrot cake cookie! Especially with frosting! And I love raisins! Have you ever tried getting them to eat the golden ones? It sounds strange but they seem to be less "raisiny" to me, a little milder and sweeter.

laurie said...

They look awsome! I could eat a batch!

Anonymous said...

Those are cute decorations. I'm fond of carrot cake, but now I'd like to try carrot cookies. They look yum.

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

MMMMM...my mouth is watering! Those cookies look divine!

Emily Malloy said...

These look beautiful!

Sookie said...

Those cookies look delicious with the frosting! Sook @ My fabulous recipes

Angie's Recipes said...

Those carrot cake cookies look beautiful.

Anonymous said...

Ugh! What is it about raisins? Two of my boys act as if I've attempted to poison them if I bake raisins. The rest of us love raisins, so I'm not sure where this hatred comes from. The cookies are adorable!

Sue said...

I'll eat your daughters' portion:)

Justine L said...

I used to pick raisins out of my scones ... I'd ask my dad to get a raisin scone on Sunday morning, and then I'd eat the raisins out of it first. He would chide me about it every time.

This recipe sounds terrific! :)

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