Thursday, October 9, 2008

Pumpkin (Walnut) Cookies


I love these pumpkin cookies. I make them every fall. They're one of my favorite fall treats. They are soft, cakey cookies topped with a spiced cream cheese frosting.... mmmm.


I'm sure if you like nuts, the walnuts in these would be nice too, but as you know I don't like nuts so I omitted them. It can be a little tricky figuring out when these are done baking, as the recipe gives the vague description of "8 to 10 minutes or until set." Just watch the edges of the cookies - they will begin to brown ever so slightly when they are done.


These are always a huge hit whenever I make them. I had one person tell me that these cookies were "orgasmic," and another stated that these were the best cookies she had ever had in her life.


With all the pumpkin goodies being baked up during the fall, you somehow always end up with a partially used can of pumpkin. So, if you're looking for something to make with leftover canned pumpkin, this is it. These would be perfect to bring to Thanksgiving dinner because they are so simple to make, and I'm sure they would be a welcome change from the same old pumpkin pie.

You might also want to try these other pumpkin recipes:
Pumpkin Cinnamon Streusel Buns
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Honey Frosting
Pumpkin Roll

Pumpkin Walnut Cookies
from Land O'Lakes

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature (I used salted butter and omitted the salt from the recipe)
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 cup sugar
1 cup (8 ounces) canned pumpkin (pumpkin comes in 15 ounce cans; not pumpkin pie filling)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon (I used pumpkin pie spice)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts (I omitted these)

Frosting
2 cups powdered sugar (I recommend sifting this)
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 (3-ounce) package cream cheese, softened (I used 1/3 less fat Neufchatel cheese)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice or ground cinnamon (I used pumpkin pie spice)
Walnut pieces, if desired (I omitted these)

Heat oven to 350°F. Combine butter, brown sugar and sugar in large bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until creamy. Add pumpkin, egg and vanilla. Continue beating until well mixed. Reduce speed to low; add flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Stir in 1 cup walnuts by hand.

Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls, 2 inches apart, onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until set. (I bake mine for 11-12 minutes. They will start to become slightly golden around the edges when they are done.) Cool completely. (I let them cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring them to a cookie rack to finish cooling - they are soft and delicate, so be careful.)

Combine all frosting ingredients except walnut pieces in medium bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until smooth. Frost cooled cookies. Garnish with walnuts, if desired.

Yield: 5 dozen cookies


37 comments:

  1. Love a pumpkin cookie this time of year. Mine always have chocolate chips, but the cream cheese icing sounds good! What are those little candies in the picture? They look yummy.

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  2. These look like a fabulous fall cookie!

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  3. When someone tells a cookie is orgasmic, I think it says it all! ;)

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  4. I have always wanted to make a pumpkin cookie with frosting. Yours look so good.....

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  5. Well, these are definitely being added to my "must make" list! :) They sound wonderful! Thanks!

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  6. What a lovely treat to make every fall - YUM!

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  7. what a yummy looking fall cookie. i will have to keep this recipe for when i need to use that extra can of pumpkin.

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  8. These look great! I make a pumpkin cake from the 2nd Magnolia cookbook that is very similar but I'm going to try your cookies. I just roasted some pumpkins last weekend so this is perfect timing.

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  9. These look and sound so yummy and I'm TOTALLY loving the pics with the fall colored choc. covered seeds! :)

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  10. Oh my! This looks sooo yummy. I love all things pumpkin.

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  11. These are amazing photos, Jaime! And I have never tried pumpkin cookies. Yum!

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  12. Great pictures!! These look so yummy. :)

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  13. Those look like pretty special treats!

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  14. These look delicious! I haven't found a good pumpkin cookie recipe yet, so I'll definitely have to try this!

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  15. These look wonderful! I still have some cans of pumpkin from last year...

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  16. Just wanted you to know that I love your recipes and I nominated you for an award on my blog (www.whowantsdinner.blogspot.com)!

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  17. orgasmic, eh? that's quite an adjective. :)
    although i don't have any canned pumpkin, i do have some pureed butternut squash. i wonder if it'd be just as good, with all the proper spices, of course...heck, who am i kidding--anything with that frosting would be fabulous.

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  18. How cool- because I have exactly 1 cup of pumpkin puree in the fridge, and now I know what to do with it!!

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  19. Hi Jaime
    I was wondering about those bright little pops of color you added in the form of nuts or candy, what are they? Your cookies look amazing. I love all things pumpkin, the spices, etc. Maybe my kids will like these too. Even my college kids. I think the Pastry Queen would be proud!
    AmyRuth

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  20. Katrina and AmyRuth - they are chocolate covered sunflower seeds! I am not sure if you can get them anywhere else, but they are one of the things I picked up from Trader Joe's while I was in CA last time :)

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  21. Well, I do love me the pumpkin, so sign me up!

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  22. These look so good! So soft. I'm going to have to try these.

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  23. These are in the oven as we speak and smell AMAZING...can't wait to frost and try one!

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  24. Mmm, these look so delicious! I <3 pumpkin.

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  25. Oh yes these look good! I love pumpkin anything, and the frosting would be the icning on the cake...so to speak for me!

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  26. Talk about great minds... You and I posted on pumpkin cookies on the same day. Except yours trumps mine with that awesome frosting. Mmmm... good.

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  27. I made these cookies...and after eating 4, decided they needed to get OUT of the house (because I could have eaten ALL of them). The first friends I gave a plate to came back for more...the second set of friends requested the recipe so that they could make them immediately...my roomate downed a plateful, and I had 3 boys in my kitchen fighting over the last one. I'd say they were a hit!!

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  28. hi carolyn! i'm so glad you enjoyed them - thanks for letting me know you made them and how they turned out! they are soooooo addicting, aren't they? i could not wait to make them again this fall :)

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  29. Cool recipe.. Wouldn't have thought that it was from LoL.

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  30. Wow, these look and sound amazing! I've been craving pumpkin baked goods, so I'm going to try the recipe soon.

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  31. Ooh! You're right. These do look good. I'm afraid that I might end up eating too many, but I can always share them!

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  32. Those cookies sound really good! Nice and seasonal. I always seems to have a bit of leftover pumpkin puree and these would be a great way to use/enjoy some. I am going to have to look for some of those chocolate covered sunflower seeds.

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  33. Wow! These sound so tasty! Perfect cookie for fall, I love the idea of frosting them :).

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  34. these are soo beautiful! i love the chocolate covered sunflower seed garnish...the are so yummy and pretty!

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  35. I just made these yesterday for Thanksgiving - they were a big hit! So easy to make and very, very yummy!

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  36. Janelle - I'm glad you enjoyed them; we love them!

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  37. When I made these, they didn't make anywhere near 5 dozen. I BARELY got 3 dozen, and my cookies were fairly small.

    They're delicious cookies, though. My household enjoyed them very much.

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