Pumpkin and Spice

Now that it's fall, I've been craving some good pumpkin recipes. So, I've bought a couple cans of pumpkin puree and have been playing around in the kitchen with them. I have some recipes for pumpkin muffins, pies and bread, but I decided to try something new and tinker around to make pumpkiny versions of some of my favorite treats.

These are a pumpkin-spice version of my oatmeal cookies. Obviously, I added pumpkin and tweaked the spices, but I also used some whole wheat flour and cut out the butter to make these cookies a little bit healthier. Bonus!

The cookies are moist, lightly sweet and cakey. The pumpkin and spices are complimented very nicely by the tart cranberries and raisins, and the oatmeal gives them a satisfying chewy texture. They aren't as rich as the original cookies, but they were delicious! With the pumpkin, dried fruit, oatmeal and whole wheat, they actually made a great, filling afternoon snack with a cup of coffee. (They also made a good breakfast... not that I ate cookies for breakfast...ahem...) I mean, they're practically health food, right?

If you'd like a batch of chewy pumpkiny eat-them-for-breakfast-and-not-feel-guilty-about-it cookies, you'll need...

Pumpkin and Spice Oatmeal Cookies
Makes about 30 cookies

• 1c pumpkin puree
• 1/2c sugar
• 1c lightly packed brown sugar
• 2T molasses
• 2 eggs
• 1t vanilla
• 1/2c milk (I used Silk soymilk)
• 1c flour
• 3/4c whole wheat flour
• 3c quick oats
• 2t baking powder
• 1/4t baking soda
• 2t cinnamon
• 1/2t nutmeg
• 1/2t ginger
• 1/4t cloves
• 1c rasins
• 1c dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 350F. Put the dried fruits in a microwave safe bowl and add just enough water to cover. Microwave for about 5min, or until the fruits plump up. Drain well and set aside. In a mixing bowl, combine the pumpkin, sugars, molasses, eggs, and vanilla and stir until smooth. In a seperate bowl, whisk together the flours, oats, spices, baking powder and baking soda. Add half the dry mix to the pumpkin mixture and mix to combine. Add the milk and combine, then the rest of the dry. Mix until combined. Fold in the dried fruits.
With a 1.5oz scoop (or a spoon) drop the dough onto parchement lined cookie sheets. They won't spread, so you may want to press them down a bit. Bake for about 15-18min. Allow to cool, and eat with a cup of coffee or some soy milk for breakfast... I mean... What's that over there?!