I love thumbprint cookies because of the obvious reasons (sugar! butter!), but also because the process of making them is a real grown-up-playing-with-her-food moment. And that’s kind of fun. I see why kids do it. 🙂
These feature just a little bit of pumpkin. I don’t know about you, but this time of year you can usually find a partially used can of pumpkin puree in my refrigerator most of the time.
I usually use it up within a week or so (and I don’t always store it in the can, I often use Tupperware), but still it seems that many pumpkin recipes that I enjoy (like homemade PSL syrup among other things) don’t use an entire 15 oz. can of pumpkin puree.
So, I’m left adding it to my morning oatmeal or dreaming up little treats to make. Which is partly how these pumpkin thumbprint cookies came to be.
I also added a bit of whole grain flour to the batter for these and I think it really adds something, so give it a try. That, and then I’ve tricked you into buying whole grain flour. So now you’ve got to come on the journey with me.
What journey, you ask? You know, the journey of substituting whole grain flour in almost everything you make for at least a few months just to see. It’s pretty addicting I tell you.
Pumpkin Thumbprint Cookies, makes one dozen.
1/2 cup softened butter
1/3 cup sugar
1 egg yolk
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
For the pumpkin centers:
1 yolk
2 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1-2 oz melted dark chocolate (optional, but why not?)
In a mixing bowl, stir together the butter and sugar until well combined. Stir in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until just combined. Then, stir in the flours and salt. The dough should be fairly dense and hold its shape.
For the pumpkin batter, just stir together the yolk, pumpkin and cinnamon.
Don’t be jealous, but here’s the chocolate I used for these. It’s no secret that I LOVE Askinosie Chocolate, and they just started making these smaller sized bars for Target. Cute, right?
Anyway, once you have your batters ready, divide the cookie dough into twelve small balls and place on a baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment paper. Make a small indention in the center with your thumb and fill with a little of the pumpkin batter. Bake at 350°F for 15-16 minutes.
Melt your chocolate (in a double boiler or the microwave) and drizzle it over the top. If pumpkin and chocolate just aren’t for you, then you could use white chocolate for a different flavor or dust with a little powdered sugar.
Or, easiest of all, leave them unadorned. They do already have sugar in them so you don’t HAVE to add more.
These are the perfect little cookies to go with an afternoon cup of tea or coffee, so that’s my serving suggestion to you.
I’ve been trying to switch to tea in the afternoon instead of coffee because I am getting old and I suspect the coffee keeps me up at night. But man do I love coffee, so it’s hard to remember to switch. The struggle is real. xo. Emma
P.S. Check out 15 Pumpkin Desserts to Make This Fall for more recipes!
Grab this guide to see our Top 25 Recipes of all time!
Free Popular Recipe Guide
Our top 25 recipes of all time!
Get the Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (softened)
- â…“ cup sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- ¾ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup flour
- ¼ cup flour (whole wheat)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon pumpkin puree
- â…› teaspoon cinnamon
- 1-2 ounces melted dark chocolate (optional)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the butter and sugar until well combined. Stir in the egg yolk and vanilla extract until just combined. Then, stir in the flours and salt. The dough should be fairly dense and hold its shape.For the pumpkin batter, just stir together the yolk, pumpkin and cinnamon.
- Once you have your batters ready, divide the cookie dough into twelve small balls and place on a baking sheet lined with a baking mat or parchment paper. Make a small indention in the center with your thumb and fill with a little of the pumpkin batter. Bake at 350°F for 15-16 minutes.
- Melt your chocolate (in a double boiler or the microwave) and drizzle it over the top. If pumpkin and chocolate just aren’t for you, then you could use white chocolate for a different flavor or dust with a little powdered sugar.Â
Notes
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
These look delicious! i love pumpkin!!!
These sound delicious and look so festive. Also, thanks for the tip to put pumpkin in my oatmeal. Yummy,
I tried to make these today and they turned out very crispy and almost a bit melty (like when chocolate chip cookies get very flat and crispy). Help! What did I do wrong?!
I love these! I used to make them growing up also with a hershey’s kiss for Christmas.
Keri
www.thestylestudiobykb.com
These look so delicious!
I made these tonight and my boyfriend and I have already eaten more than half the batch! I love that they aren’t too sweet- and they’re SO perfect for fall 🙂 Thanks Emma!
Love the idea! I’m not a huge fan of traditional thumbprint cookies (they weren’t really a family specialty, which I’m sure would be a factor, plus I’m just all about the creamy or chocolate desserts), but pumpkin and chocolate….oh yeah. And I have long substituted whole wheat flour in my baking for half if not all of the flour – white whole wheat (which is hard white winter wheat if I’m grinding my own) or pastry flour work well. Not a fan of red wheat. But anyway, I do it even in desserts, and since it’s kind of just what we do, I don’t even notice anymore, although I’ve been more lax lately and only doing half and half. Bread tastes like candy when it’s only half whole wheat and you’re used to making it 100%!!
This looks amazing! So delicious!
xx
These look divine and I bet they are! Can’t wait to try this recipe out!
Love,
Mariam
www.thepetitebijou.com
Just the thing I was graving!! They look so cute and delicious for a fall treat.
xo
http://dearbabymj.blogspot.my
I have that partially used can of pumpkin puree in my fridge right now that I had no idea what to do with. Totally making these!
Those look amazing! I definitely need to make these. Chocolate and pumpkin, that’s just perfection!
Oh my these look amazing! Gotta love me anything pumpkin related!
Trish
www.thetrishlist.com
Mmmm! I love thumbprint cookies. It’s so delicious to sub out vanilla extract for almond extract!!!!
It’s almost too pretty to eat!…almost 😉
http://mademoiselleaventure.com
They look really good! http://www.hannamarielei.com
Yum! I’m a sucker for anything pumpkin! These cookies look delicious!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
this is awesome 🙂
mfashionfreak♥blog
Ooh my family makes thumbprints for Christmas and we roll them in nuts before pressing them down! I think that’d be really good with the pumpkin!
mmmmmmm!