Pumpkin Drop Cookies

I liked pumpkin spice before it was cool. Instead of a birthday cake I used to ask my mom to bake me an Impossible Pumpkin Pie, a crustless pumpkin quiche. She would dump pumpkin pie spice into the batter liberally. That “pie” always tasted better after sitting overnight in the refrigerator when the spices had time to infuse their flavor into the orange pumpkin flesh more. Now pumpkin spice fans can find that intoxicating mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice in just about everything from cereal to salad dressing (pumpkin dressing happens to be my son’s favorite). Signs and t-shirts proclaim our love for the stuff. I stock up on pumpkin this time of year so that I can enjoy it all year long. I love creating new recipes with pumpkin pie spice, and these pumpkin drop cookies are my latest invention. They are soft, full of that warm pumpkin spice, free of egg, dairy, and added sugar (except for 1 teaspoon of maple syrup in the chocolate glaze) and can easily be gluten free. Enjoy these with a cup of cinnamon herbal tea, and you have the perfect fall treat.

Ingredients:

1 cup oat flour*

1 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

1 tsp baking powder

12 dates

1 cup pumpkin puree

In a small bowl, whisk together the oat flour, pumpkin pie spice, and baking powder.

In a microwave safe bowl, add dates and cover with water. Microwave on high for 2 minutes to soften them. Drain the water.

In a food processor or blender, puree the pumpkin and dates.

Add the pumpkin/date puree to the flour mixture and stir until thoroughly combined.

Drop tablespoonfuls of the batter onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Let cookies cool and drizzle with chocolate glaze.

* Use gluten free oat flour to make these cookies gluten free. You may substitute whole wheat or all purpose flour as well.

Chocolate Glaze:

2 TBSP non-dairy milk

1 TBSP cocoa powder

1 tsp pure maple syrup

1/8 tsp vanilla

Whisk all ingredients together until there are no lumps.

Drizzle over pumpkin cookies.

Lick the bowl