The first time I had these cookies my sister had made them. I was hooked after the first bite. The soft pumpkin cookies are filled with raisins and nuts topped with a splendid caramel frosting tastes like all my favorite Fall flavors in one bite.
She graciously shared her recipe with me and it was among those I scanned this summer. Thanks to the “cloud” I was able to easily retrieve it to make this weekend.
These cookies remind me of muffin tops, with slightly crunchy edges and soft interiors. The batter is cake like so I’m sure you could use it for muffins or loaves instead of cookies. You’d have to adjust the cooking time, of course.
The original recipe calls for margarine. I substituted butter, but coconut oil would work well, too. I didn’t have any raisins on hand but I was happy with the dried cranberries I used instead.
Frosting is optional. I actually preferred the unfrosted cookies this year. After a summer of cutting down on the sugar the frosting was just a little too much. The cookies themselves were a welcome treat with a cup of tea. I got two dozen 3 – 4 inch cookies from this recipe.
Ingredients:
For the cookies:
- 1 cup butter (2 sticks or half a pound)
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (I used canned…make sure to buy the pumpkin NOT pumpkin pie filling)
- 2 eggs
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 2 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 cup chopped nuts (I used walnuts. Pecans are an option as well.)
- 1 cup raisins or dried cranberries or a combination
For the frosting
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
Method:
- Preheat oven to 350°. Grease baking sheets.
- Cream the butter and sugar together in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the vanilla, pumpkin, eggs and salt, mix well.
- Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking soda and baking powder (I measure them into a separate mixing bowl and stir together well)
- Add the dry ingredients to the wet a third at a time, mixing well between additions.
- Stir in the nuts and raisins.
- Drop batter onto baking sheets and spread dough into a round shape with the back of a spoon. I use a large serving spoon to portion the cookies (about 2 tablespoons). Leave plenty of space as the cookies will spread.
- Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, turning or rotating the pans about halfway through.
- The cookies should be a little brown on the edges and cake like in the centers. Transfer them to racks to cool. They will firm up as they cool, but will always have a soft texture.
- If making the frosting, put the butter, vanilla and brown sugar in a small sauce pan and allow to melt. When the mix turns a dark amber color and thickens, add the milk and stir vigorously. Add the powdered sugar a little at a time, beating well each time. Resist the temptation to add more sugar or your get a really stiff, hard to spread mess (ask me how I know).
- The frosting sets up quickly so carefully spread onto the pumpkin cookies while still warm.
Pumpkin cookies with caramel frosting are different from the ones I traditionally make (usually some variation on oatmeal or chocolate chip…always crisp). Do you like soft, cake like cookies?
Anything with caramel frosting has to be great! Thanks for linking up with the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Party. I have pinned your post to the Bloggers Brags Pinterest Board!
You had me at pumpkin. I love it and enjoy it year round. My cousin has a pumpkin patch so we pick them in season and do a lot of canning to keep my pumpkin habit happy all year round. Thank you for another great recipe to add to my ‘Nothing But Pumpkin’ pin board.
Love it! Thanks for dropping by 🙂
I have never had caramel frosting before! I would probably lick it off the cookie 😉
I have been wanting to make pumpkin cookies! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Maggie
http://blog.thelovenerds.com
Thanks so much for hosting today!!!
I love anything pumpkin and caramel, thanks for posting this recipe!
San
I came over from the daily blog boost –
http://www.adashofsanity.com/2013/10/chocolate-pecan-pie/
I’m a soft, chewy cookie kind of girl. I think I would definitely frost these though- I am a frosting junkie! Pinned to my Pumptoberfest board!
You’re great at naming things. You should be in marketing 🙂 Thanks for the pin!
Hi Lydia – I wanted to let you know that we featured your apple-fennel slaw recipe at
http://acts17verse28.blogspot.com/2013/10/hop-along-with-holiday-battle-of-bulge.html.
Feel free to share some more of your healthy recipes, and if you’d like, you can grab our
hop button & share that you were featured!
Wow! Thanks so much 🙂 I’ll make sure to grab the button.
These look wonderful. Very yummy for Fall! Thanks for hosting DBB.
I love pumpkin and it tastes even better in the fall. I don’t know why, it’s probably just me. I really like the caramel frosting idea. Thanks. Pinning.
I know what you mean. I’m not sure if it’s because we associate pumpkin with the fall or if it’s just fresher. Thanks for your comment 🙂
seriously you say pumpkin and caramel in the same sentence and I’m THERE!!! Yummy!! sharing on fb ;o)
Yumm! I love this time of year with all the pumpkin goodies! I love your addition of caramel frosting. I love me some caramel. Pinned.
These sure look good, TFS.
Yum, I love the frosting idea. Definitely want to try these! Pinning!
I love me some pumpkin cookies! The frosting sounds delicious too! Visiting from the DBB.
Oh my these look amazing! I kind of wish I had some now to go with my morning cup of coffee! 🙂 I will be pinning this for sure. Thanks for sharing, I’m looking forward to making these soon. Vising from B.D.B.
They’re definitely great with a morning cup! Thanks for taking the time to stop by 🙂
These look amazing. I’ve pinned them to my cookie board to try later.
Love pumpkin cookies. I’ve had with cream cheese glaze and maple glaze, but never caramel glaze! Pinning. Would love for you to share it tomorrow on Planned in Pencil at the Pinworthy Project Party. Live at 10am.
I love the idea of the cream cheese glaze. Thanks for the invitation to the Pinworthy Project Party (great name)!
These look amazing! I am going to pin them because I’m definitely going to have to make them! Stopping by from DBB thanks for hosting today! 🙂
Thanks Cara, I hope you enjoy them 🙂