Pumpkin goodness

I cannot get enough of pumpkin flavored things in the fall. And this recipe did not disappoint. The cookies are very cake-like, but get a nice crust on the outside. And the cinnamon glaze? Well, that's the icing on the cake.
I usually sneak in some whole wheat flour in cookies, but I was all out this time around. I added some quick cooking oats instead. Not a lot, but enough to give the cookie a bit of texture. Barely noticeable, but it's nice to know there is a bit of whole grain in there. I would imagine you could easily substitute half of the white flour for whole wheat.

Pumpkin Cookies with Cinnamon Glaze
(Adapted from Iced Pumpkin Cookies at allrecipes.com)


2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup quick cooking oats
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

 

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 1/4 cups white sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 

For the Cinnamon Glaze
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon melted butter
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine flour, oats, baking powder, baking soda, pumpkin pie spice and salt. Set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and sugars. Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.
3. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from heat and transfer to cooling sheets.
4. While cookies are cooling, make the glaze. Combine confectioners' sugar, milk, melted butter, cinnamon and vanilla. Add milk as needed to reach the right consistency (thick but "dunkable").
5. Allow cookies to cool, then dunk them top first into the glaze. Don't store the cookies in a closed container. They'll do fine out on the counter for a couple of days.

In the Kitchen: Strawberry Shortcake Cookies

Strawberry season is here! I love finding new recipes to make with all the delicious local strawberries out there right now. Of course, they're great for just eating fresh, but there are a lot of fun ways to use up all those berries.

This recipe came to me from Martha Stewart's Cookie of the Day e-mail, Strawberry Shortcake Cookies. It really is like a portable strawberry shortcake; the cookie itself is like a sweet biscuit. They were amazing - slightly crisp on the outside with a great biscuit inside -  on day 1, but by day 2 were a bit soggy. I'd suggest making them on a day or for an occasion where you know you will consume them all that day. The upside is that they are so easy to put together, it isn't a lot of trouble to make - and eat - them on the same day.

One more note: The recipe from the web site says it makes 3 dozen. I used a bigger scoop than called for and got 1 dozen. Whoops. I am an admitted sugar freak, but I thought the palm-sized cookies that resulted were a good serving size. And since they are best eaten that day, I think 12 larger cookies is much more doable than 3 dozen.


Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
from Martha Stewart Living

12 ounces strawberries, hulled and cut into 1/4-inch dice (2 cups)
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
3 ounces (6 tablespoons) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2/3 cup heavy cream
Sanding sugar, for sprinkling

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine strawberries, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons granulated sugar. Whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, and remaining 7 tablespoons granulated sugar in a large bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter, or rub in with your fingers, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in cream and strawberry mixture until dough comes together.
2. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop or a tablespoon, drop dough onto baking sheets lined with parchment, spacing evenly apart. Sprinkle with sanding sugar, and bake until golden brown, 24 to 25 minutes (this might take longer if you make the larger size). Transfer to a wire rack, and let cool. Cookies are best served immediately, but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 day.