It’s no doubt that pumpkin is one of the quintessential flavors of autumn, and appears in a variety of delicious fall recipes. Here are three options to satisfy the fall pumpkin craving.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
This delicious, autumnal dessert was introduced to me as a teen and has quickly become one of my all-time favorite goodies to give to friends and family, bring to Halloween parties and Thanksgiving celebrations, or just enjoy by myself.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1 cup pumpkin purée
- ¼ cup vegetable oil
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 2 tsp baking powder
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ginger
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp cloves
Begin by preheating an oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, in a bowl, mix your dry ingredients together. In another, mix the wet ingredients before adding the two halves together. Finally, bake on a cookie sheet for approximately ten minutes. The cookies will be quite soft when they come out of the oven, but they will set up after cooling.
Additionally, several of these ingredients can be used to make your own pumpkin spice latte, a recipe for which will be detailed below.
Pumpkin Spice Latte
There are multiple ways to create a pumpkin spice latte at home, depending on whether or not you own an espresso machine. However, many of the flavorings can be applied regardless of which method you choose.
Ingredients:
- 3 shots espresso
- 1 ½ cups steamed or heated milk (recommended vanilla flavored almond milk, but any kind can work)
- OR 1 cup black coffee & 1 cup steamed or heated milk (same recommendations apply)
- 1 tbsp vanilla flavored syrup
- 2 tbsp pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon or 1 whole cinnamon stick
- ½ tsp ginger
- ½ tsp nutmeg
- Whipped cream for garnish (optional)
These amounts can be adjusted based upon your flavor preferences, but the recipe as written is intended to give a balanced mix of fall flavors. Mix these ingredients into your coffee and enjoy.
Pumpkin Soup
Finally, for a savory pumpkin dish suited to dinner on a cold autumn evening, try this pumpkin soup.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ cups pumpkin puree
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tsp ground salt
- 1 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 cup chopped baby carrots
- 1 large diced russet potato
Bring the pumpkin and chicken broth to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally and adding seasonings. Then, add the potatoes and cook until soft. Add the carrots and onion during this time.
This soup can fill many of the same niches as a tomato bisque, but with an autumnal twist. It can be served with grilled cheese sandwiches, warm bread, or enjoyed on its own.
