Fall Treat - Pumpkin Chip Cookies

Fall Treat - Pumpkin Chip Cookies

A healthier chocolate chip cookie!

        A versatile pumpkin cookie recipe that stays moist and tastes even better the next day! You can replace the chocolate chips with carob chips; use whatever combination of nuts, seed and dried fruit you like. 

Ingredients
1 15 oz can pumpkin
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup oats
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1 cup vanilla chips
2/3 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
1/3 cup raisins
1/3 cup coconut
1/3 cup dried cranberries

The dough will look kind of like this. That's Zoe watching!

Directions
Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, baking soda, ground cinnamon, ginger and salt.  Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Add  oatmeal, chips, pumpkin seeds, cranberries, raisins, coconut and nuts.
Drop by spoonful on greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 degrees F  for approximately 12 minutes or until lightly brown and firm. I make giant cookies so they can take up to 20 minutes!

I usually use parchment paper for baking most cookies; helps them keep their shape and easy clean up!

DIY Thanksgiving Ideas, Recipes & Decor

 

I love these tea lights placed inside gourds from Family Circle

I am so focused on the food I often forget about nice simple little festive touches like this.

Brussels sprouts are my favorite. Most everyone actually eats the sprouts when I make them! The secret is roasting and the maple syrup!  Try roasting parsnips and carrots with them : ) Here is the recipe and others from The New York Times

Maple Sage Scalloped Sweet Potatoes

This is another favorite Thanksgiving dish; Scalloped Sweet Potatoes with Maple and Sage. The recipe from Kathy Casey in the Seattle Times. I like to throw pecans on top too! For a "lighter" version you can substitute chicken stock for some of the cream with a couple tablespoon of flour and it is just as yummy

Thanksgiving aprons from Sew What Designs on Etsy

For a festive look while you are cooking you may want one of these aprons from Sew What Designs on Etsy.

These shimmery pumpkins would be smashing on a more formal table! How-to at favecrafts.com

Here is a gorgeous centerpiece from wedding-ideas-guide.com There will be no room on my table for this but it would look great on the side table!

Last but not least the dessert! I love pumpkin tiramisu. I use a traditional recipe with espresso and all but add a small can of pumpkin puree to the mascarpone with pumpkin pie spice ( about 1/2 tsp)   I also add  1/3c each toasted hazelnuts or pecans, chopped candied ginger and dried cranberries.  I make sure to be generous with the shaved chocolate! Here is a recipe from Better Homes and Gardens  plus a bunch more yummy pumpkin recipes!