Carrot Cake Sandwich Cookies - YUM!

I had a carrot cake mix in my pantry that was going to expire this week, so I decided to try some experimenting with it. I ended up making some cookies that my whole family really loved! If you are a carrot cake fan, then these cookies are for you! We'll want to make these again, so I wanted to write down the recipe before I forgot it:

Cookie:

• 1 (18.25-ounce) package of carrot cake mix
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional - we did some with and some without nuts - both ways were yummy!)
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut flakes (optional - I made some with the coconut for Gerald, who LOVES coconut. They actually turned out really good!)
  

Preheat oven to 350 F degrees. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper for best results. If you don't have parchment paper, just spray your cookie sheets with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl beat the dry cake mix, oil, eggs, and pumpkin pie spice with an electric mixer on medium speed until well-blended and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in the remaining additions you are using with a wooden spoon, just until combined. Drop the dough by teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto prepared cookie sheets. Flatten the cookie dough balls slightly with the back of a fork or the bottom of a glass. Bake for 10 minutes, or just until the edges are set but the centers are still soft. Remove from the oven and cool the cookies on the cookie sheet for few more minutes and then transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 1/4 c. butter, softened
• 6 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 c. powdered sugar
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Cream the butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy. Beat in powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in the cinnamon and vanilla.

When the cookies are cooled, put a generous amount of the cinnamon cream cheese frosting on the flat side of one cookie and then stick another cookie on to make a cookie sandwich - like homemade oreos. Enjoy! YUM!