The Perfect Pumpkin Cookies

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

05 Nov 2008 08:17 AM

It's a virtual pumpkinpalooza in our home. Last week it was all about pumpkin seeds. Then, we made pumpkin pizza, pumpkin waffles, and pumpkin muffins to take to various Halloween parties. Now, we're moving on to pumpkin cookies.

If you are looking for an easy dish to pass at a Thanksgiving-related party, or if you need to bring a seasonal dessert to a November playgroup (like me), I highly recommend the following delicious recipes.

Both are for Pumpkin Cookies, though they have decidedly different flavors and textures. The first recipe calls for pumpkin, plus the added bonus of chocolate chips (you could substitute with dried cranberries if you want a healthier version). The second pumpkin cookie recipe includes pecans, which adds a great crunch to this soft baked treat.

CHOCOLATE CHIP PUMPKIN COOKIES

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 cup solid packed pumpkin

1 cup oats (quick cook or regular)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels (you could use dried cranberries)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Set aside.

Cream butter, gradually add sugars, beating until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla. Mix well.

Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin, mixing well after each addition. Stir in chocolate morsels.

Drop in spoonfuls onto lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake 20 to 25 minutes until cookies are lightly browned.

Allow to cool for 10 minutes before serving.

SOFT BAKED PUMPKIN PECAN COOKIES

Ingredients:

1 (15 ounces) can pumpkin, about 1 2/3 cups

4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

1 cup light brown sugar, packed

1 cup (8 ounces) butter, softened

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon maple extract

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

4 eggs

1 cup pecan halves

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, add all ingredients except pecans. With hand held mixer at low speed, beat ingredients until blended. Increase mixer speed to medium and beat for another minute.

Using 2 tablespoons of batter for each cookie, spoon batter into mounds on ungreased baking sheets. Press a pecan half into the center of each cookie dough mound.

Bake cookies for 18 to 20 minutes, until golden brown. Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Makes 6 dozen cookies.

Related Articles:

Jazzed Up Pumpkin Desserts

Pumpkin Pizza

Perfectly Delicious Pumpkin and Chocolate Treats

Pumpkinpalooza--A Meal Made of Pumpkins

Variations on the Traditional Pumpkin Pie

Bring On the Pumpkins: How to Cook with Fresh Pumpkin

Post Halloween Pumpkin Decorating Ideas

Pumpkin Waffles with Brown Sugar Syrup

Two Thanksgiving Sides: Grandma Delp's Pumpkin Casserole and Sweet Potato Casserole

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Courtney Mroch (9169) 05 Nov 2008 04:02 PM

Ooooohhhh, pumpkin pecan cookies....I'm drooling....I feel a recipe testing day coming on this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration, Michele!

Michele Cheplic (37349) 06 Nov 2008 07:34 AM

Thanks Courtney!

williamgeorge (5) 12 Feb 2009 11:29 AM

The pumpkin patch is filled with many pumpkins, squash, corn, and gourds. In fact, the patch holds almost 400 different kinds of varieties of pumpkins! They also have a fun straw maze that holds the children's attention and they have a blast scaring each other at all of the dead ends of the maze. Not only does this patch have a straw maze, and plenty of pumpkins, but they also grow some of the most beautiful mums as well. The Great Pumpkin patch has over 8,000 harvest mums that are available for sale to the public. ---------- george Cooking