Pumpkin Thumbprints Food

PUMPKIN THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Mix whole wheat flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl.
• Whisk pumpkin, honey, melted butter, and vanilla extract together in a separate bowl. Pour over the flour mixture and mix until combined.
• Drop cookie dough onto the baking sheets using 2 spoons or a cookie scoop. Use a floured finger to press a dimple into the center of each cookie.
• Mix walnuts, butter, and honey together for the filling. Evenly distribute the walnut filling among the cookie centers.
• Bake in the preheated oven until edges are firm and start to brown, about 15 minutes.

PINEAPPLE THUMBPRINTS

Steps:

• Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Beat the butter, brown sugar and 1/3 cup granulated sugar in a large bowl with a mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg, then the lemon juice. Reduce the mixer speed to medium low; mix in the dried pineapple, then the flour mixture until combined. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, combine the crushed pineapple, cream cheese, the remaining 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, the vanilla and lemon zest in a bowl with a rubber spatula, breaking up any large pineapple pieces. Refrigerate until slightly firm, at least 30 minutes.
• Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls; arrange 2 inches apart on the baking sheets. Indent each with the back of a floured 1/4 teaspoon measuring spoon; brush with milk.
• Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the cookies are slightly puffed, 10 to12 minutes. Remove from the oven andre-indent; spoon in the filling. Return to the oven until lightly browned, 6 to 8 more minutes. Let cool 5 minutes on the baking sheets; transfer to racks to cool completely. Top with dried pineapple.

PUMPKIN PIE THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• For the cookies: Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pumpkin pie spice in a medium bowl. Beat the butter and 1/2 cup of the granulated sugar in a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in the egg until combined. Add the vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to low and beat in the flour mixture until the dough comes together.
• Mix the remaining 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice and 1/4 cup granulated sugar in a shallow bowl or plate. Roll the dough into 1 1/2-inch balls (each ball should be a heaping tablespoon; you should have about 18 balls), then roll in the spiced sugar mixture. Divide the dough balls between 2 baking sheets, spacing them about 2 inches apart. Use the handle of a wooden spoon to indent the centers of each dough ball, pinching together any large cracks that form (a few small cracks are fine). Refrigerate until firm, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Position oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F.
• Bake until the cookies just begin to warm through, about 6 minutes. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and use the handle of a wooden spoon to indent the centers just a little more. Return them to the oven, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and front to back, and bake until the cookies are set and slightly browned on the bottom, an additional 10 to 12 minutes. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.
• For the pecan crumble: Meanwhile, microwave the butter in a small microwave-safe bowl until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the pecans, brown sugar, oats and pumpkin pie spice. Microwave until the sugar is dissolved, about 1 minute. Let cool in the bowl until the crumble is crunchy, about 30 minutes.
• For the pumpkin pie filling: Whisk the confectioners' sugar, pumpkin puree, cream cheese, vanilla extract and fine salt in a small bowl until smooth.
• Assemble the cookies: Once the cookies are cool, spoon 1 to 2 teaspoons of filling into the center of each cookie and smooth the top if needed. Sprinkle the crumble on top of the filling. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

THUMBPRINT PUMPKIN COOKIES

Steps:

• Make the cookie dough:
• In a medium bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking soda and ground cinnamon. Mix briefly with a fork to combine and set aside.
• In a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment over medium/high speed, cream butter, cream cheese, and sugars until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Reduce the speed to low and add the flour mixture in 2 parts and mix until just combined. Fold in the pecans, folding the cookie dough onto itself with a spatula to incorporate all the dry bits.
• Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and place in the freezer for about 30 minutes.
• As the dough chills, make the pumpkin pie filling.
• Make the pumpkin pie filling:
• To a bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment (a hand mixer works well here too), add the cream cheese, pumpkin puree, spices, and vanilla extract. Whisk on medium until incorporated, about 30 seconds. Reduce the speed to low and add the confectioners' sugar. Mix until the confectioners' sugar is mostly combined, then increase the speed to high and mix until smooth. Transfer the pumpkin pie filling to piping bag fitted a decorative or round tip, cover the tip with plastic wrap, and place piping bag in the refrigerator until ready to use.
• Bake the cookies:
• Preheat oven to 350°F and remove cookie dough from the freezer.
• With a small cookie scoop, drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto baking sheets about 1 inch apart. Place cookies in the oven and bake for about 12-14 minutes until lightly browned, rotating pan midway through to ensure even baking.
• Remove cookies from the oven and with a cookie scoop make an indentation in the middle of each cookie. Allow the cookies to cool slightly in the baking sheet, then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
• Fill the cookies:
• Remove piping bag from the refrigerator. Fill indentation of each cookie with pumpkin pie filling. Allow the filling to set in a cool place for about 30 minutes. When the filling sets it should feel tacky to the touch.