Nothing says Fall like pumpkin.

At the first signs, I am perusing recipes and pins on Pinterest to find new and exciting pumpkin recipes.

I had a jar of Nutella that Nick wanted to try a while back that has just been sitting there begging to be used in some sweet form, so I decided on this recipe I found from Jenn @eatcakefordinner.

The guys loved them, and I had fun using my new micro-planer (from our Trip to the Strip) to add freshly ground nutmeg to these tasty little puffs of pumpkiny goodness.  (what a difference fresh seasonings, herbs, and spices makes.  Oh – if you could only scratch ‘n sniff this photo – which I DO NOT recommend!)

We might also be able to trick ourselves into thinking these are a little bit healthy……… pumpkin is a vegetable with loads of vitamins – and this recipes uses Greek yogurt too.  Give them a try.  They are a perfect Fall treat.

Pumpkin Nutella-Swirled Cookies
From: Jenn@eatcakefordinner

3 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c.  butter, room temperature
1 1/4 c. light brown sugar
1 c. non-fat plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)
1 c. canned pumpkin puree
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. Nutella

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In bowl, combine flour, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon; set aside.  In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar.  Add the yogurt, pumpkin, egg and vanilla and mix until combined.  Gradually mix the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until just combined.  Drop spoonfuls of dough, about 1 1/2 – 2 Tablespoons each, onto a greased baking sheet.  Flatten cookies a bit.  They do not spread much while baking and they puff up quite a bit, so make sure to flatten them. 

Top each cookie with 1/2 teaspoon or so of Nutella, spreading out and swirling slightly.   Bake cookies for 12-15* minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Makes 36-43* cookies.     

*Jenn’s recipe said bake for 15 min, but I only needed 12 min in my convection oven.  Also, Jenn said her recipe made 43 cookies, and I got 36.

Enjoy!

Cheers & Hugs,

Jodi