Gluten-Free Vegan Carrot Cake Power Cookies

Carrot Cake Power Cookies — healthy, gluten-free, vegan breakfast cookies packed with superfoods. Kid-friendly and delicious!

This Vanilla Chia Pudding makes another tasty gluten-free, vegan breakfast option.

I just survived eight days of my husband being out of town while our kindergartner was on spring break.

Now I’m happily typing this post while my husband puts the kids to bed — a refreshing change after a week of doing it all solo.

He went to a conference in Houston and visited his brother for a few days. We completely missed that spring break overlapped with his trip because we’ve been busy selling our home and preparing to move across the country. We forgot all about spring break!

Even with Dad away, we made the most of our staycation. The boys slept in until 8:30–9:00 most days (bless them!), and we enjoyed parks and playdates around Utah instead of crowded attractions.

I underestimated how busy places like the children’s museum get during spring break. I thought a weekday visit would be fine — I was wrong. Lesson learned: parks and small playdates are much less chaotic.

One thing that helped a lot during single-parent spring break was meal prep. Getting hangry with kids in tow is a recipe for disaster, so having ready food was a lifesaver.

I made a large batch of gluten- and dairy-free lasagna before my husband left, plus a turkey sweet potato hash. It was so nice not to cook every night or deal with a sink full of dishes.

These Carrot Cake Power Cookies are one of my favorite make-ahead breakfasts for busy weeks.

Although I eat eggs, many of my baked goods include them. These cookies, however, have a wonderfully fluffy texture despite being entirely vegan.

They’re packed with healthy fats and superfoods — chia seeds, ground flax, walnuts, and nut butter — and are naturally sweetened with applesauce and a touch of maple syrup.

Beyond protein and fiber, these cookies are very kid-friendly. My toddler adores them, and I love that he’s getting good nutrients in a cookie.

On hectic mornings, having one or two of these cookies makes a quick, nourishing breakfast you can feel good about.

I also enjoy Banana Oat Breakfast Cookies for variety, and if you prefer paleo, these cookies are naturally grain-free.

5 from 2 votes

Carrot Cake Power Cookies {Gluten-Free, Vegan}

Author
Erin Collins

Prep Time
5

Cook Time
17

Total Time
22

Servings
15 -20 cookies depending on size

Carrot Cake Power Cookies — healthy, gluten-free, vegan breakfast cookies full of superfoods. Delicious and kid-friendly!

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Ingredients

2 tablespoons ground chia seeds
1/2 cup hot water
1/2 cup cashew butter or almond butter
1/2 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup arrowroot powder
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup grated carrots
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line two baking sheets with silicone mats or parchment paper.
Mix ground chia seeds with hot water and let sit about 5 minutes while you measure the other ingredients.
In a bowl, combine cashew (or almond) butter, ground flaxseed, arrowroot powder, applesauce, maple syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, and baking soda. Use a hand mixer to blend until smooth. Add the chia mixture and mix until fully incorporated.
Fold in the grated carrots, raisins, and chopped walnuts until evenly distributed.
Scoop batter onto prepared baking sheets using a cookie scoop or wet spoon. Wet your hands slightly to flatten the cookies if desired.
Bake 15–17 minutes, until edges are golden and cookies are springy to the touch. Cool on the sheet for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Enjoy!

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