Delicious Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies: The Ultimate Spring Dessert Recipe

Discover how to make irresistible Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies, featuring soft, spiced carrot cake cookies generously sandwiched with a luscious vegan cream cheese filling. Perfect for celebrating spring or satisfying your sweet cravings!

Are you already dreaming of longer days, blooming flowers, and the gentle warmth of spring? Many of us find ourselves eagerly anticipating the shift in seasons, and with it, the craving for light, vibrant, and utterly delightful desserts. While embracing the present moment is always a goal, there’s no denying the excitement that comes with the promise of warmer weather and all the wonderful treats it brings.

For me, the taste of spring is intrinsically linked to carrot cake. My earliest memory of cake is a carrot cake – a cherished first birthday treat that my tiny, enthusiastic hands happily dismantled piece by orange piece. This nostalgic connection makes carrot cake not just a dessert, but a symbol of celebration, the arrival of spring, and the joyful anticipation of sunny days ahead.

We might still be a little ways off from leisurely days filled with sunscreen, flip-flops, and floppy beach hats, but allow me to introduce a truly special creation that will transport your taste buds directly to springtime bliss. I’ve crafted these incredible Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies just in time for National Carrot Cake Day, and they are guaranteed to become a new favorite!

These delightful Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies are a sophisticated twist on a classic treat. They feature tender, spiced carrot cake cookies, rich with grated carrots and warm cinnamon, beautifully sandwiched together with a smooth, tangy, and utterly decadent vegan cream cheese filling. These aren’t just any cookies; they’re hearty, satisfying, and bursting with authentic carrot cake flavor. They are the epitome of a perfect spring dessert – or a wonderful way to manifest spring, even if the weather outside hasn’t quite caught up yet!

Crafting the Perfect Vegan Carrot Cake Cookies: Essential Ingredients

The foundation of these exquisite moon pies lies in the perfectly spiced and wonderfully tender carrot cake cookies. Achieving that classic carrot cake texture and flavor in a vegan cookie is simpler than you might think with the right ingredients. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need to make these flavorful cookies:

• Ground Flaxseed: This is our magic ingredient for a “flax egg,” acting as a powerful vegan binder that perfectly replaces traditional eggs, giving our cookies structure and a slight nutty flavor.
• Grimmway Farms Bagged Carrots: Fresh, high-quality carrots are non-negotiable for authentic carrot cake flavor. I highly recommend Grimmway Farms for their consistently sweet and vibrant carrots, which infuse these cookies with natural sweetness and moisture.
• Almond Butter: Adds healthy fats, binds the ingredients, and contributes to a wonderfully moist and chewy texture. Choose a natural, unsweetened variety for best results.
• Coconut Oil: When melted, coconut oil helps to bring all the wet ingredients together and ensures a tender crumb. It also solidifies slightly as the cookies cool, helping them hold their shape.
• Pure Maple Syrup: Our natural sweetener of choice, offering a rich, nuanced sweetness that complements the carrot and spice flavors beautifully, without any refined sugars.
• Oat Flour: A gluten-free flour that provides a soft, delicate texture. You can easily make your own by blending rolled oats into a fine powder.
• Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats: Adds a delightful chewiness and hearty texture to the cookies, making them more substantial and reminiscent of classic carrot cake. Ensure they are certified gluten-free if needed.
• Almond Flour: Contributes to the tender texture and a subtle almond flavor, enhancing the overall richness of the cookie.
• Baking Powder: The leavening agent that helps our cookies rise slightly and achieve a perfectly soft, cake-like consistency.
• Cinnamon: The quintessential spice for carrot cake! It adds warmth, depth, and that unmistakable comforting aroma.
• Chopped Walnuts or Pecans: Optional but highly recommended for a delightful crunch and nutty flavor that elevates the moon pies.

With this carefully selected list, you’re well on your way to baking the most delicious vegan carrot cake cookies!

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Vegan Carrot Cake Cookies

The first and most crucial step in creating these delightful moon pies is baking the cookies themselves. Follow these instructions carefully for perfect results:

1. Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. This will ensure your cookies don’t stick and cook evenly.
2. In a spacious mixing bowl, combine the ground flaxseed with filtered water. Give it a good stir and then set it aside for approximately 5 minutes. This allows the flaxseed to gel and form a thick, egg-like consistency, which is crucial for binding our vegan cookies.
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4. Once your flax egg has gelled, add the finely grated carrots, creamy almond butter, melted coconut oil, and pure maple syrup to the same bowl. Stir everything thoroughly until all the wet ingredients are well combined and uniform.
5. Next, introduce the dry ingredients: oat flour, rolled oats, almond flour, baking powder, and cinnamon. Gently stir until a smooth, thick batter forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to tougher cookies. Finally, fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans, distributing them evenly throughout the batter.
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7. Using a spoon or a small cookie scoop, drop 1-2 tablespoons of batter for each cookie onto your parchment-lined baking sheet. These cookies won’t spread significantly during baking, so gently flatten each scoop into a small, uniform circle using a spatula or the back of a spoon. Aim for a consistent size to ensure even baking and easy moon pie assembly.
8. Bake the cookies for 20-25 minutes, or until their undersides and edges are beautifully golden brown. The cookies should feel firm to the touch.
9. Carefully transfer the baked cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. This cooling step is crucial; attempting to frost warm cookies will cause the cream cheese filling to melt and slide off. Patience is key here!

Ingredients for a Divine Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

While your freshly baked carrot cake cookies are cooling to perfection, it’s the ideal time to whip up the dreamy vegan cream cheese frosting. This simple yet incredibly flavorful frosting is what truly elevates these moon pies to an exceptional dessert. Here’s what you’ll need for this luscious filling:

• Vegan Cream Cheese: Choose a high-quality, block-style vegan cream cheese for the best texture and stability. Brands vary, so opt for one you trust to be firm and tangy.
• Pure Maple Syrup: Our preferred natural sweetener, providing a delicate sweetness that perfectly balances the tanginess of the cream cheese. You can adjust the amount to your preference.
• Pinch of Cinnamon: A touch of cinnamon enhances the overall warmth of the carrot cake flavor profile, tying the cookies and frosting together harmoniously.

That’s all it takes to create a rich, creamy, and irresistible frosting that complements the carrot cake cookies beautifully!

Crafting the Silky Smooth Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting

Making this vegan cream cheese frosting is remarkably straightforward and requires minimal effort. You don’t even need a stand mixer – a simple bowl and a fork will do the trick!

1. In a small mixing bowl, combine the vegan cream cheese, pure maple syrup, and the pinch of cinnamon.
2. Using a fork or a small whisk, vigorously mix all the ingredients together. Continue stirring and mashing until the mixture is completely smooth and wonderfully creamy. The vegan cream cheese should easily soften and blend, creating a beautiful, spreadable consistency.
3. Taste the frosting and adjust the sweetness as desired. If you prefer a sweeter frosting, simply add a bit more maple syrup, a teaspoon at a time, and mix thoroughly until combined.

Your delightful vegan cream cheese frosting is now ready to be generously spread onto your cooled cookies!

Assembling Your Delectable Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies

Now that your cookies are perfectly baked and completely cooled, and your luscious cream cheese frosting is whipped to perfection, it’s time for the most exciting part: assembling your Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies!

1. Ensure your carrot cake cookies are *completely* cool. This is vital to prevent the cream cheese frosting from melting and becoming runny.
2. Take one cooled cookie and, using a spoon or a small offset spatula, spread a generous dollop of the vegan cream cheese frosting onto its flat bottom. Aim for an even layer that extends almost to the edges.
3. Gently place another cooled cookie on top, flat-side down, creating a sandwich. Press down lightly to adhere the cookies to the frosting, but be careful not to squeeze out too much filling. You want a nice, thick layer of frosting in the middle!
4. Repeat this process until all of your cookies and frosting are used up. Depending on the size you made your cookies, you should yield approximately 8 to 12 glorious Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies.

These Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies are truly best enjoyed immediately, when the cookies are still tender and the frosting is at its creamiest peak. Prepare for an explosion of flavor and texture with every bite!

Highlighting Grimmway Farms Carrots: Quality You Can Taste

For these exquisite Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies, I chose Grimmway Farms Bagged Carrots, and for good reason. High-quality carrots are paramount to the success of any carrot cake recipe, and Grimmway Farms consistently delivers. Their commitment to freshness, flavor, and sustainable farming practices truly shines through in their produce.

Using their conveniently bagged carrots makes it incredibly easy to infuse these cookies with that authentic, sweet carrot cake flavor. These aren’t just any carrots; they’re packed with essential nutrients, including a significant amount of vitamin A and beta-carotene, both crucial for supporting healthy vision and contributing to a well-balanced lifestyle. Incorporating such nutrient-rich ingredients means you’re not just enjoying a delicious dessert, but one that offers a little wholesome goodness too!

When preparing the carrots for this recipe, I prefer a very fine consistency. I typically shave my carrots first and then give them a rough chop before adding them to a blender or food processor. The goal is to achieve an almost pureéd texture, which seamlessly integrates into the cookie batter, ensuring a smooth consistency throughout the moon pies while maximizing that sweet, earthy carrot flavor. This fine grating also ensures no large, fibrous pieces of carrot detract from the delicate cookie texture.

Grimmway Farms remains one of my absolute favorite sources for fresh produce. The quality and care that goes into their cultivation and distribution are evident in every bite. Their carrots are always crisp, sweet, and vibrant, providing the perfect foundation for recipes like these moon pies. Trusting a brand like Grimmway Farms ensures that the core ingredient of your carrot cake recipe is of the highest standard, making your final dessert truly exceptional.

Serving Suggestions and Storage Tips for Your Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies

These Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies are more than just a treat; they’re a delightful experience to create and share. Their charming presentation makes them perfect for any gathering, from casual spring picnics to elegant dessert tables. They’re particularly wonderful for celebrations like Easter, Mother’s Day, or simply as a special weekend indulgence.

While designed to be enjoyed as moon pies, don’t hesitate to savor the carrot cake cookies on their own. They are incredibly delicious as a standalone snack or with a cup of tea or coffee. If you happen to have any leftover vegan cream cheese frosting, get creative! It makes a fantastic spread for fresh fruit, a topping for pancakes or waffles, or even a decadent addition to your morning toast.

To keep any leftover Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies fresh, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days. It’s important to note that the consistency of the cream cheese frosting may firm up or dry out slightly over time, so for the absolute best texture and flavor experience, these moon pies are truly at their peak when fresh. Enjoy every moment of this delightful spring dessert!

Explore More Delicious Vegan Carrot Cake Creations

If you’ve fallen in love with the flavors of these Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies, you’ll be thrilled to know there are many more ways to enjoy the deliciousness of plant-based carrot cake. Here are some other fantastic recipes to inspire your culinary adventures:

• Carrot Cake Almond Flour Muffins

• Carrot Cake Baked Oatmeal

• Carrot Cake Bliss Balls

• Cinnamon Roasted Carrot Cake Shakes

• Coconut Carrot Cake Overnight Oats

• Quinoa Carrot Cake Cookies

Share Your Creations With Me!

I absolutely love seeing your culinary masterpieces! If you decide to make this delightful Vegan Carrot Cake Moon Pies recipe, please don’t hesitate to let me know how it turned out. Your feedback is invaluable and helps me continue creating more delicious recipes for you to enjoy.

Be sure to leave a comment below, along with a rating and a review, so I can use your wonderful insights to craft even more yummy treats.

And of course, give me a shout on Instagram! Use the hashtag #floraandvino to proudly show off your beautiful creations. I can’t wait to see them!

Looking for more plant-based inspiration? Check out my Pinterest page to pin this recipe and discover a treasure trove of other delicious ideas to make later.

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XO Lauren

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This post is brought to you by Grimmway Farms, but all words and eats are my own. Thanks for supporting the sponsors that keep me hungry!