Easter Carrot Cookies with Orange Glaze

If you are from the midwest you are probably very familiar with Carrot cookies with Orange glaze. If you are not, you probably have never heard of them but you definitely need to try them! Some form of this recipe has always been around my family and friend's holiday parties. And it seems that carrot cookies are fitting for the Easter holiday, so I made some for work and my family with colored frosting to make them more festive. This time I made them vegan because I took them to work and I want everyone to be able to enjoy them. You can easily change up the recipe to use eggs and butter if you like. Enjoy!

Easter Carrot Cookies with Orange Glaze

1 Cup Vegetable Shortening

2 Tbsp Water (These two ingredients can be substituted with 1 cup Butter)

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Packed Brown Sugar

1/4 Applesauce (can be substituted for 1 egg)

3 Tbsp Orange Juice

1 Tbsp Orange Zest

2 Cups All-Purpose Flour

3/4 Tsp Baking Soda

1/2 Tsp Salt

1/4 Tsp Cinnamon

1 Cup Shredded Carrots

Orange Glaze

2 Cups Powdered Sugar

1 Tbsp Orange Zest

2 to 3 Tbsp Orange Juice

Heat oven to 350F. Combine shortening, water, sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy. Add applesauce, orange juice and orange zest. Continue beating until well combined. In small bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. With mixer on low speed, add flour mixture in small batches to large bowl until well mixed. Stir in carrots.

Use a melon baller or teaspoon and drop dough rounded onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Cool completely.

Combine powdered sugar and orange zest in small bowl. Beat at low speed adding enough orange juice for desired consistency. Frost cooled cookies. If desired, make glaze in smaller batches and add 2 drops of food coloring for make pastel colored gaze for Easter!