Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies

I will confess it now, I think I love all things pumpkin. I don't think I've eaten anything pumpkin and not liked it so far. However, this recipe which I found on Vanderbilt Wife's Blog is amazing! She gets all the credit. I was a bit shocked however that our cookies looked just a bit different. I think I know why...and I'll share my secret. (NO, its not trick photography...you know..I use my cell phone..nothing special here!)

While I haven't posted on this particular blog in ages, I'm excited to start back up again. I've been a bit busy with writing a book (YES...truth - its with the editor as we speak (eh..type), and working on a speaking at Bagels & Blessings (Women's Ministry event)! OK..you don't want to hear about all of that...that information is for my other blog...The Journey of a Superhero Mom! Feel free to go there if you want more information on my absence.

I don't think I'm alone in my passion for pumpkin. The most popular post on this particular blog was my Pumpkin Waffles. Click on the link if you're interested in those.

Okay, here is my secret, it makes everything taste and look that much better I think. All you need is to find an adorable, self motivated 11 year old boy (he is 12 now) who has a passion for cooking! (I understand they are not easy to find, so I wish you the best!)

Have him, independently carve up that pumpkin (in this case he did 4 massive pumpkins). Now, I recommend that if he is careful and you trust your child...DO NOT watch him. It just causes too much stress. :)

Then have that 12 year old boy bake those carved pieces in the oven (or whichever way you choose to cook your pumpkins). Then have him put everything through the food processor.

When he is done he should bag as many as he can and label them (2 cups, 3 cups...) and freeze them. The container is because we were using that first..that went into the refrigerator to be used up that week.

For this recipe, I grabbed a bag of his fresh pumpkin from the freezer and let it defrost. He made a pie and I made pumpkin spice latte cookies.

That 's my secret!

Now, these delicious soft cookies taste better than the famous PSL at Starbucks! I kid you NOT! Here we go:

Ingredients:
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon 
1/2 tsp. salt 
1 c. butter (can sub shortening or use a mixture of the two) 
1 c. sugar 1 c. pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)(I used fresh from our pumpkins - you don't have too!) 
1 egg 
1 tsp. vanilla 

Frosting:
3 T butter 
1/4 c. milk 
1/2 c. brown sugar 
2 tsp. instant coffee granules 
1 c. powdered sugar 
1/2 tsp. vanilla 
1 T heavy cream 

Instructions 
Sift the first five ingredients together (flour through salt). In a separate bowl, cream sugar and butter. Add pumpkin, egg, and vanilla. Beat well. 

Add dry ingredients all at once and stir gently to form a smooth batter. Drop by tablespoons on an ungreased cookie sheet. (I use a small cookie scoop.) 
Bake 12 to 14 minutes at 350. 

Let rest on cookie sheets for a few minutes when they come out of the oven; then transfer to cooling racks and let cool. 

Frosting 

Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add milk, brown sugar, and coffee granules and bring to a bubble over medium heat. Once bubbling, cook two minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. (I transfer to a bowl and refrigerate.) When cool, stir powdered sugar, vanilla, and heavy cream into the sugar mixture. Spoon or drizzle over cooled cookies.

WARNING: They will not last long. Also, even if you are not a "coffee drinker", these cookies are...amazing! You might still love them. So give them a try, at the very least make them for the coffee lovers (or pumpkin lovers) in your home or in your neighborhood. By the way, another sure fire way to keep the neighborhood watch strong by your house...feed your neighbors homemade cookies! They'll be watching your house...waiting for you to come out with a special little plate! ;)

Well, that is it for now. Thanks for finding your way back to the kitchen! I know it has been awhile. I'm going to write that post about my "must haves" tools in Krypton's Kitchen - but I might get distracted! You know what's coming up right? Here is a little hint: