Ingredients

Scale

½ cup plus 2 tablespoons mild olive oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil
¾ cup 158 grams dark brown sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon 16 grams vanilla bean paste
1 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely grated
1½ cups 195 grams unbleached, all-purpose flour
1½ cups 120 grams old-fashioned oats
½ teaspoon 3 grams baking soda
1½ teaspoons 8 grams baking powder
¾ teaspoon 3 grams kosher salt
2 teaspoons 5 grams roasted ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon 1 gram toasted ground cardamom
4 medium carrots or 9½ ounces baby carrots (peeled and finely grated (about 2 cups))
1 cup 172 grams roughly chopped pitted dates
½ cup 60 grams toasted almonds, roughly chopped
1½ cup 68 grams toasted sesame seeds

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Instructions

In a large bowl, combine the oils and brown sugar and whisk until completely combined. Add the egg, vanilla bean paste, and ginger and stir well.
In a separate bowl, combine the flour, oats, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and cardamom and mix well. Add the carrots, dates, toasted almonds, and sesame seeds and mix well.
Add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture and mix just until combined. Cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour, until fully chilled.
When you are ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F. Line 3 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpats. With damp hands, shape about 2 tablespoons of the dough into a ball and place it on one of the prepared baking sheets (see Kitchen TIps). Repeat with the remaining dough, leaving about 1½ inches between the cookies. (You’ll have 12 cookies per sheet.) With damp fingers, press each ball to a thickness of about ½ inch (they will be about 1¾ inches in diameter.
Bake 2 trays at a time for 10 to 12 minutes or until the cookies are a light golden brown at the edges. Cool on the baking sheets for 1 to 2 minutes; then transfer to cooling racks and let cool completely. These cookies will keep for one week. In a pinch, they can can also be individually wrapped (tightly, please) and frozen for up to a month, and reheated before serving.

Notes

To toast spices, pour the ground or whole seeds into a frying pan or cast-iron skillet and set over medium heat. Toast for 10 to 20 seconds, or up to 1 minute, until fragrant. Watch carefully so the spices do not burn.

A food processor makes quick work of grating the carrots. Use a grating disc for best results and process just long enough to grate the carrots nicely without make mush.
Toasting nuts brings out their flavor. You can buy almonds and other nuts pre-roasted, but it’s easy to do yourself.

If you wish, you can use a small (2-tablespoon) ice cream scoop to portion the cookie dough on the baking sheet assures uniform size.

This recipe is inspired by the Quaker Oats healthy carrot oat cookie recipe.