Friday, October 16, 2009

Falling in love with you...


PUMPKIN COOKIES with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

Fall is my favorite time of year, simply for the smells that come from the kitchen! Spicy, warm, sugary, comforting...all leave you feeling loved and cared for.

These cookies are super soft and rich. I added more spices than the original recipe, and topped them with simple cream cheese fluffiness.

I split some of them and made pumpkin whoopie pies with the filling-topping and those were a big hit, although not as gorgeous.

When I don't have a lot of time, spreading the dough into a 9x13 pan and baking into bars is quick and easy. Frost and sprinkle with spice - you're out the door to a potluck or party with a pan of homemade deliciousness bar none!


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adapted from the Libby's recipe

2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons Linda's Pumpkin Pie Spice
OR 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup pure pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting/Filling:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla or maple extract
3 cups sweetened whipped cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a small bowl combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spices, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl cream the butter, sugar, and brown sugar until fluffy. Beat in the pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Beat in the flour mixture just until combined.

Drop by very rounded tablespoons onto a lightly greased cookie sheet and bake for 13-15 minutes, or until golden and set. Remove from sheet and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

For the filling:
In a medium bowl whip the cream cheese and the extract until fluffy. Beat in the whipped cream, just until combined.

Either frost the cookies with the cream cheese mixture or split the cookies and fill. They must be refrigerated if frosted/filled. I kept the filling in the fridge and used it as needed.






12 comments:

  1. Great photos of some yummy sounding cooking. That's fall food at its best!

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  2. These look outstanding! Thanks for sharing!

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  3. Ooh, I've been wanting to make some pumpkin cookies! Yours look delish!

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  4. Divine.
    And here I am cooking dinner, and no pumpkin in the pantry. Blast.
    Cass

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  5. I have been craving pumpkin cookies. You have no idea how excited you've made my boyfriend and I with this recipe. He's a huge cream cheese frosting addict.

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  6. wow, these look too good to be true, simply delicious, cant wait to try them, well done, cheers from london

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  7. These look amazing, great photos! :) I am going to make them for a work potluck. Question about refrigerating them.. Did you mean before frosting, or they should be kept refrigerated? Thank you... :) mrscripe@gmail.com

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  8. I made these last night and they are super soft and so yummy! Thanks for sharing this recipe. One thing that I did notice was that they didn't come out as dark orange-brown as the picture. maybe that is just lighting. Maybe it's that I used light brown sugar....or libby's canned pumpkin instead of something else...I don't know, but the taste is perfect!

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  9. best pumpkin recipe ever. easy to make and delicious. the cookies come out very soft and fluffy. delicious

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  10. i just made these and they are absolutely delicious :) for an extra treat i broke off chunks of dove dark chocolate and made these pumpkin cookies with chocolate chunks :) - still great with the cream cheese icing btw!

    bon appetit!

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