Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is a recipe that Aili made with her SK class last year.  They were delicious and since we had these two babies this year for Hallowe'en, we decided it was time to explore our pumpkin recipes! :)

Note:  Time and patience prevent me from walking you through the making of pure pumpkin purée.  You can check out Martha Stewart's recipe here; E-how.com has instructions here.

Of course, if you are less than handy in the kitchen, you can always used canned pumpkin.  Just make sure it is PURE PUMPKIN, not pumpkin filling which already has spices mixed into it.

Okay, let's get on with it!  This is a great recipe for kids to try so get your kids involved!  Aili was excited to help me today. 

Gather your unsavoury cast of characters...

Ha!  Get it?  Unsavoury?  Because it's a sweet treat recipe...?  Never mind. 

You will need:

1/2 c. butter
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
2 1/2 c. flour
1 c. chocolate chips (I used semi-sweet)
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. pumpkin purée
1 1/2 c. sugar

Begin by preheating your oven to 350F.

Marvel at how quickly your oven face can get dirty after just cleaning it... and wave to your cute assistant in the reflection.  Guess it's not THAT dirty! :)

Dump butter and sugar into a mixing bowl and cream together. 


 Once combined, add vanilla, egg and pumpkin purée.

 Beat until combined, scraping sides as needed.

Sift together dry ingredients.  If you don't have a sifter, no worries!  I just dumped my ingredients into a sieve, set over a bowl and asked my lovely assistant to stir until it disappeared into the bowl.

Note:  When asking a 6 year old assistant to stir dry ingredients, make sure your bowl is LARGE enough to encase the sieve.  If not, be prepared for a mess.

Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture.

Stir until well combined.  Add chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoonful on well greased cookie sheet.  The batter is slightly sticky so we used two teaspoons to form cookies.  One to scoop batter, the other to push batter off first spoon onto cookie sheet.  Here, Aili demonstrates:

It's important to instill cleanliness in your kids.  While I dropped cookies onto the baking sheets, Aili started the dishes.

She was actually excited to wash them!  If your helpers are young and enthusiastic as well, be sure to take advantage of this stage, as I'm sure it won't last long...

Pop cookie sheets into pre-heated oven and bake for 20 minutes.  Reduce time to 14 minutes if cooking with convection oven. 

Note: All ovens cook differently so check after 12 minutes.  Cookies should be slightly browned and springy to touch.  A toothpick, when inserted, will come out clean when the cookies are done.

Let sit for a few minutes and transfer to cooling rack.

Guard them with your life.  They tend to disappear very quickly when warm.

Come to think of it, they don't last very long after they've cooled, either...