Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies

A little while ago, Kim, a reader and real-life cookie taster, requested a pumpkin cookie with chocolate chips. "Sure thing," I thought, "easy-peasy."

But then I started thinking about pumpkin pie and what--exactly--was the flavor of pumpkin. As a self-confessed non-eater of pumpkin pie, I wasn't sure how to capture the essence of the gourd. Ugh...not so easy-peasy after all.

And then I started thinking about seasonal flavors. Duh...pumpkin pie spice and brown butter. Eureka!

The pumpkin pie spice--a mixture of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice--gives these cookies the aromatic, autumnal flavor of a real pumpkin pie. And the brown butter adds a rich, nutty note that really complements the spice.

(Oh...and stay tuned for a pumpkin cheesecake version of my Golden Girls cookie. Alicia, my blog buddy, requested that one.)

Makes 4 dozen cookies. (To see this recipe in process, check out Picturing Pumpkin & Chocolate Chip Cookies.)

Creamables	2 sticks brown butter 1 3/4 cups dark brown sugar
Wet Ingredients	1 egg yolk 1/3 cup canned pumpkin pie filling 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 tablespoon milk 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Dry Ingredients	3 cups oatmeal 2 cups flour 1 cup chocolate chips 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 teaspoon baking soda 3/4 teaspoon salt

1. Brown the butter.
   
2. Preheat oven to 350º.
3. In your Kitchen Aid or a large mixing bowl, cream together the creamables.
4. In a small bowl, combine the wet ingredients and whisk together until smooth.
5. Add the combined wet ingredients to the creamables. Mix together until well incorporated.
6. In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients. Using a spatula, fold together until evenly distributed.
7. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the combined creamables and wet ingredients. Mix until evenly combined.
8. Shape dough into balls--about 2 tablespoons each.
9. Place dough balls about 2 inches apart on Silpat- or parchment paper-lined cookie sheets.
10. Bake at 350º for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Remove the cookie sheets from the oven and let stand for 2 minutes. Then place cookies on wire racks to cool.

Comments

[Lorraine]

These look delicious!! I like the added touch of the cream of coconut. I imagine they must be yummy.

[Oatmeal Cookie Guy]

Thanks, Lorraine. You pointed out a booboo that I just fixed. There is no cream of coconut in this recipe. It got carried over when I copied the grid layout from a previous recipe post. Sorry about that!

[Mumma]

If you're not baking a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, I think these would be a terrific substitute!!

[Princess Ariele]

These are delicious Greg! I love pumpkin and this cookie has enough of it that you can taste it, but it's not overpowering. I shared with my batch with my dad, who also loved them.

[Sara]

Just wanted to let you know that I made these last night and they are AMAZING!! So yummy and perfect for Halloween. :)

[Oatmeal Cookie Guy]

Hi, Mumma. I'm thinking of doing a pumpkin version of my cheesecake-stuffed Golden Girls cookies. Maybe I'll make those for Thanksgiving.

Hi, Princess Ariele. Thanks! I'm so glad you and your dad like them. :-)

Hi, Sara. Thanks for stopping by and trying my recipe. I love it when I get feedback from real-life recipe users. :-)

[Em]

Just made these (and the XXX cranberry cookies, I was in the kitchen for a looooong time tonight) and they're super good! I was unsure of whether I'd done the brown butter right, but they were still really good! I added a bit more pumpkin after the first couple came out of the oven because I like more of a pumpkin flavor, I'd use mini chocolate chips and because of the wider dispersement it was a little too chocolatey. And the XXX cranberry cookies-- flawless.

[Oatmeal Cookie Guy]

Hi, Em. I'm so glad you liked these and the XXX cranberry cookies. Good tip about using mini chocolate chips! :-)

[Em]

OCG, have you ever thought of doing a Boston Cream Pie/Cake version of a cookie? Could it be done?

[Mandy]

Is there supposed to be pumpkin pie spice in both the wet and dry ingredients?

[Oatmeal Cookie Guy]

Hi, Mandy. Yes...there's pumpkin pie spice in both the wet and dry ingredients. :-)