Pumpkin pie is the first thing that most of us think of when it comes to baking with pumpkins, but pumpkin puree is a very versatile ingredient that can be used in all kinds of desserts to turn them into perfect-for-fall goodies. Whether you are making homemade puree or using canned, you’re bound to need a few ideas besides pie to use it all up. These recipes are all pumpkin-centric cookies that are a delicious alternative to a more traditional pie and still pack in a lot of pumpkin flavor.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies don’t have a whole lot of pumpkin puree in them, but there is enough to combine with a healthy dose of pumpkin pie spice to turn these into a fall favorite in my kitchen. They have a chewy texture and a lot of flavor. The recipe doesn’t make a huge batch, so it is just right for snacking at home, but can be easily doubled if you want to pack them up for a party.
Pumpkin Spice Fudge Cookies have plenty of pumpkin in them, but chocolate is front and center where flavor is concerned in these fudgy cookies. They have a moist, brownie-like texture and a surprisingly rich chocolate taste for a cookie where there is a generous amount of pumpkin puree in the dough. Pumpkin pie spices like cinnamon and cloves keep you from forgetting that this chocolate cookie is perfect for the season.
Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookies are cookies that you can make all fall and right into the winter. They’re cutout cookies made with pumpkin and molasses, so they have a great balance of pumpkin and gingerbread flavor to them. The dough is easy to work with, so you (or your kids) can have a lot of fun using cookie cutters in all shapes and sizes to make cookies for either Halloween or the holidays.
Pumpkin Brownies with Pecans are a great bar cookie that packs a lot of pumpkin flavor. The bars have the same fudgy texture that you would find in a more traditional brownie, but there is no chocolate to be seen anywhere in the bars. I like to add pecans for crunch in these, but if you prefer a little chocolate in your brownies, you could substitute chocolate chips.
Pumpkin Whoopie Pies with Salted Caramel Filling are made with soft, moist pumpkin cakes that sandwich an addictive salted caramel filling. Cream cheese frosting would also be a nice way to finish of these cookies, since tangy cream cheese will contrast well with the sweet and spicy pumpkin. The whoopie pies are a fun alternative to a more traditional cake or cupcake as  pumpkin dessert.
What do you think?