Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

I thought I had lost my baking mojo over the last few months.  Then this recipe came into my life and my baking love was reborn.  Well, at least for a moment and I'll explain.  On a rainy Sunday afternoon my youngest daughter pulled up a chair to the kitchen counter and offered to help me make these snickerdoodles.  She was excited to measure, stir and generally be a good sous chef - until the pumpkin had to be added.  The very smell of the pumpkin sent her running from the kitchen and yelling that I had ruined a perfectly good cookie.  She then proceeded to lock herself in her room until I was done baking whatever smelled so bad.  Weird, huh?  Who has that strong of a reaction to pumpkin?  Isn't it the smell of fall, of Thanksgiving , of pilgrims?  (Well, maybe not pilgrims since they probably were a bit rank.)  In any case, these are fantastic -not too sweet and the pumpkin keeps them moist.  Overall, a great cookie despite what my pumpkin-hating daughter thinks!   


3¾ cups all-purpose flour
1½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
¼ tsp. ground nutmeg
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
½ cup light brown sugar
¾ cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract

For the coating:
½ cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. ground ginger
Dash of allspice

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk to blend and set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the butter and sugars on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Blend in the pumpkin puree. Beat in the egg and vanilla until incorporated. With the mixer on low speed add in the dry ingredients and mix just until incorporated. Cover and chill the dough until firm.

Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line baking sheets with silicone baking mats (just started using them and they are great) or parchment paper. Combine the sugar and spices for the coating in a bowl and mix to blend. Scoop the dough (about 2½ tablespoons) and roll into a ball. Coat the dough ball in the sugar-spice mixture and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough to fill the sheets, spacing the dough balls 2-3 inches apart. Dip the bottom of a flat, heavy-bottomed drinking glass in water, then in the sugar-spice mixture, and use the bottom to flatten the dough balls slightly. Recoat the bottom of the glass in the sugar-spice mixture as needed.
Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, or until just set and baked through. Let cool on the baking sheets about 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat with the remaining dough. Store in an airtight container.

Source: adapted from Recipe Girl


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