Chewy Carrot Cake Cookies with Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• ½ cup packed light brown sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1 egg (at room temperature)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ cup carrots (grated, from about 2 medium carrots)
• ½ cup chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons cream cheese (room temperature)
• 1 tablespoons butter (room temperature)
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons milk (plus more, as needed)