Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Yes, I’m sharing more pumpkin recipes. Give me a break – pumpkin season comes only once a year and I can’t help but take advantage of it as much as I can!

I’m always a fan of pumpkin cookies. The pumpkin blondies I made last year were my favorite, but the soft pumpkin cream cheese cookies are another great choice when looking for a crowd pleaser. Who wouldn’t like soft pumpkin cookies with a cream cheese glaze?

Ok, not everyone likes soft pumpkin cookies. Did you know that there are even people who (gasp) don’t like pumpkin? I know, right? Anyway, my mom does like pumpkin but she is not a huge fan of soft pumpkin cookies. She likes pumpkin bread but when it comes to pumpkin cookies – or cookies in general – she prefers more crispy, less cake-like cookies. Which is why I decided to try to find a pumpkin cookie recipe that would satisfy that need. I sought a chocolate chip cookie recipe that would work with pumpkin – and this is it! I took aspects from a few recipes (including this recipe from one of my favorite bloggers, Picky Palate,  and this one from the Food Network) to get this just perfect, and here it is.

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies - i crashed the web

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Here’s what you need:

  • 8 tablespoons butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup pumpkin puree
  • 1½ tablespoons molasses
  • 1 egg
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1½ cups all-purpose flour
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • 2 cups chocolate chips or about one 11.5 oz bag (I didn’t try but I bet these would be delicious with white chips as well! Or even mini chips)

Here is what you do:

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or spray with non-stick cook spray.
  2. Combine butter and sugars in stand mixer, beating until light and fluffy.
  3. Add molasses, pumpkin, egg and vanilla. Beat until combined and smooth.
  4. Add most of dry ingredients – starting with flour and baking soda, and then add in cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger.
  5. Stir in chocolate chips.
  6. Drop dough by about tablespoon sized dallops onto prepared baking sheet.
  7. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until baked through and starting to crisp up.
  8. Cool for a few minutes on baking sheet then transfer to cooling rack.

pumpkin chocolate chip cookies - i crashed the web

Fall Baking Wishlist – Pumpkin Edition

Don’t tell anyone – but fall is NOT my favorite season. I know, I know  — I’m in the minority – most folks I talk to who live in Cleveland or on the East Coast LOVE fall. Sweaters, boots, cooler weather, the works – but to be honest, fall for me just makes me start to think about winter, which I do NOT love, and I really just love spring and summer.

Phew. Not that that confession is off my chest – I do want to share that I LOVE fall baking. And I love everything about pumpkin in the fall! But since we’ve been a little crazy the past few weeks with work, moving, unpacking, etc. up until this weekend, I hadn’t baked in forever. And then I went on a fall baking binge. Pumpkin granola. Pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. Pumpkin scones. Yes, I made them all. And I want to bake more! So to get myself inspired – and to satisfy those of you with the sweet tooth who are tired of my vacation posts and happy the baking posts are back – here’s what’s still on my fall baking wishlist. What’s on yours?

Fall Baking Wishlist – Pumpkin Edition

Pumpkin Biscotti from here

Pumpkin Truffles from here

Pumpkin Cookies that I made last year!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Scones from here

And while we’re talking about pumpkin scones – what about these that I just made?

Pumpkin scones with Maple Butter Glaze from here

promise they taste better than they look.

promise they taste better than they look.

These super soft white chocolate pumpkin blondies I tried out last year as well.

And this amazing sounding cinnamon pumpkin sheet cake from here

Enjoy! What’s your favorite pumpkin recipe?

Pumpkin Scones with Maple Butter Glaze

Pumpkin season is here! For all you pumpkin haters out there (you know who you are) stop reading this NOW because there is nothing more in this post for you. But if you’re a pumpkin lover, I promise you’ll love this recipe.

B loves scones. He started enjoying them when we went to Ireland and hasn’t turned back since. In fact, on our West Coast trip from a few weeks ago we had quite the adventure each day trying to find him a scone he would enjoy – it was difficult. But we managed 🙂

Anyway, when B wasn’t home, I decided to surprise him with some pumpkin scones. I must warn you – these were a little moister (Yes, I went there) than the typical scone, but they were still pretty awesome. The combination of the pumpkin, fall spices and maple really works well.

I have to admit, I took some elements from this recipe, also from this recipe and then pretty much just used what I had on hand. Which is maybe why there weren’t as dry as your typical scone. Or it could be the pumpkin. I’ll have to find out next time!

pumpkin scones with maple butter glaze {i crashed the web}

Pumpkin Scones with Maple Butter Glaze

Here’s what you need for the scones:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ½  cup granulated sugar
  •  1 Tablespoon baking powder
  •  ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  •  ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  •  ½ teaspoon ground allspice
  •  ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  •  6 Tablespoons butter, cold
  •  ½ cup canned pumpkin
  •  1/3 cup buttermilk
  •  1 large egg

Here’s what you need for the glaze:

  • 1½ tablespoons butter
  • ¾ cups powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 Tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 Tablespoon water, if needed

Here’s what you do:

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and ginger in a large bowl.
  3. Slice the butter into small pieces and use a fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients. Combine until mixture is crumbly and butter is no longer visible.
  4. In a small bowl, combine pumpkin, buttermilk and egg. Fold pumpkin mixture into flour butter mixture and combine.
  5. Pat out dough onto a lightly floured surface and form into two balls. Push down lightly on the balls and then use a knife to cut the dough into slices (like a pizza). Place slices on prepared baking sheet. Warning – the dough will grow larger!
  6. Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until light brown. Place on wire rack to cool.
  7. After the scones have cooled, drizzle the glaze on top. To make the glaze, melt the butter in a saucepan on low. Add in vanilla and powdered sugar and combine until smooth. Add maple syrup. Add water if glaze is too thick. Drizzle on the scones.
  8. Enjoy!
promise they taste better than they look.

promise they taste better than they look.

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Happy Halloween! ‘Tis the season for pumpkin! As you may have noticed, I’ve been busy whipping up some pumpkin recipes these past few weeks. Soft pumpkin cookies with cream cheese frosting, pumpkin blondies – yum!

Now, for the easiest pumpkin pie recipe of all – and still delicious – pumpkin pie dip. My friend Ali shared a version of this recipe with me a few years ago and it’s become a staple in my stomach house every fall. Serve it with apples, pears, ginger snaps, nila wafers, or cinnamon sugar pita chips. Or eat it with a spoon – it’s THAT good!

easy pumpkin pie dip

Pumpkin Pie Dip

Here’s what you need:

  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened (I used half full fat and half 1/3 less fat cream cheese)
  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin
  • 2 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice

Here’s what you do:

  • Make sure cream cheese is fully softened – I left mine out of the fridge for 30+ minutes before starting the recipe. Once softened blend cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
  • Gradually add in the canned pumpkin. Stir in pumpkin pie spice.
  • Chill until serving. I served mine with apples and cinnamon & sugar pita chips!

easy pumpkin pie dip

Pumpkin Butterscotch White Chip Bars

Fall is here! Fall is here! Which means .. it’s time for baking with, cooking with and eating pumpkin!

Earlier this week I mentioned that I had missed National Homemade Cookie Day. Fear not – I celebrated last night instead, baking some pumpkin butterscotch white chocolate chip cookies. AND since we’re having a pumpkin party today at work (yes, my job is that awesome) – I brought some in to share!

Looking for a hand-held, sweet, moist (yes, your favorite word) way to enjoy some pumpkin? Here you go – enjoy!

pumpkin blondies

Pumpkin Butterscotch White Chip Bars

(modified from The Girl Who Ate Everything)

Here’s what you need:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
  • 1¼ cups brown sugar
  • 1 large egg (I used 1/4 cup Egg Beaters)
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree (About 1/2 of a 15 oz can)
  • 1 cup white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup butterscotch chips

Here’s what you do:

  1. Cream together butter and sugar.
  2. Add egg and vanilla. Combine with an electric mixer. Add in pumpkin puree and mix well.
  3. Combine flour, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, salt. Add to creamed mixture.
  4. Fold in the white chocolate and butterscotch chips.
  5. Bake at 350 degrees in a 13×9 greased pan for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. They’ll be moist, but cooked.

Enjoy! More pumpkin recipes to come 🙂

pumpkin blondies fall baking

Fall Cookie Inspiration (Pumpkin, Apple, Oatmeal and more)

Yesterday was National Homemade Cookie Day! I can’t believe I missed it. I actually didn’t even have it on my radar until last night when my friend Devin messaged me, “Today is national homemade cookie day – sounds like a good opp for Melissa Bakes!”

I dropped the ball and ended up going to the Indians game instead of baking; but, here’s a belated blog post to share some cookie recipes that are perfect for fall. I promise to make at least one of these recipes this week!

Caramel Apple Bars (from Betty Crocker)

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles (from Annie’s Eats)

Peanut Butter & Fudge Oatmeal Bars (from The Kitchn)

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Sandwiches (apologies for the photo -it’s from my Tumblr – I made these last year)

Caramel Apple Cookies (from Midwest Living)

Pumpkin Blondies (from Inspired By Charm) – I am so making these this week!

Pumpkin Gingersnaps (from Two Peas in their Pod)

Did you celebrate National Homemade Cookie Day? What are you excited to bake this fall?