Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Pumpkin cookies!

Pumpkins and fall go together like peanut butter and jelly or . . . any other twin metaphor. So, of course, since the day we brought in 44 pumpkins from the garden a few weeks ago, I've been dying to make yummy pumpkin cookies!!

Here's the recipe I tried, and pictures of my process :)

Pumpkin Drop Cookies

1 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (instead, I recommend 2 teaspoons cinnamon, plus 1/2-1 teaspoon each allspice, nutmeg, & cloves)
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans (optional)


Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. 

Beat in egg. Add pumpkin and vanilla.


Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon (and other spices, if you prefer) and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. (Stir in pecans.)


Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto ungreased baking sheets.  
Bake at 350° for 11-13 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
Remove to wire racks to cool.
I recommend putting paper towels under the cooling rack,
or your counter ends up looking like this!

We (my husband Parker and I) tried this recipe with several different add-ins. After tasting with and without frosting, here are the results:
Dried cranberries: Yummy w/ & w/o frosting
Cranberries & chocolate chips: Amazing! either way
Chocolate chips: Good, especially with frosting
Butterscotch chips: THE BEST! w/ & w/o (I love them even more with frosting, Parker likes them better without)
Chocolate and Butterscotch chips: EVEN BETTER! We didn't do this, but we ate pieces of the 2 cookies together and we wish we had added both!
Extra spice: like I recommend above, they are so much better with extra spices (and any add-ins)

Penuche Frosting
3 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons milk
1-3/4 to 2 cups confectioners' sugar

Directions:
For frosting, in a small saucepan, bring brown sugar and butter to a
boil. 

Cook and stir over medium heat for 1 minute. 
Remove from the heat; cool for 10 minutes. (*Be sure you do this! I didn't, and it made it much more difficult!)

Transfer to a large bowl; beat in milk.
Beat in enough confectioners' sugar to achieve spreading consistency.


Enjoy these cookies! Please tell me all about your baking experience!!!

Happy Baking!


5 comments:

  1. Oh my goodness, these look yummy! I love your add-in results! I love dried cranberries, but haven't thought about putting them with pumpkin, may have to try that out.

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  2. Yummy! Thanks for sharing your recipe!

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  3. Yum, chocolate or butterscotch chips sound like good add ins. Will have to try that the next time. Sounds like you made a lot of cookies to try all of those options. Never too many cookies in my book!

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  4. I am going to try these - they sound delish!

    ♥♥♥
    Sue

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