This is not speculation my friends, this is a fact. In a taste test performed by me in my kitchen with no other cookies up against it, I found these to be the softest cookies I have ever eaten.
Just like Bo knows baseball, Teanna knows cookies.
A few months ago, my friend Chelsea made these pumpkin cookies that I have not been able to stop thinking about. They were light as air, with a texture that fell between a cookie and a cake. Eating one was like eating a cloud in heaven in the fall. That's how good they were.
So last week, I decided to try to find a recipe in hopes that I would be able to recreate the wonders that Chelsea introduced me to. Of course I found a great recipe on Joy the Baker and decided to go for it.
And I think I hit the nail on the head. These cookies are light, soft, super fluffy, and spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger.
Let me tell you something else spectacularly wonderful about these cookies. They are healthy cookies. I hesitate to call things healthy just because they aren't fattening, especially cookies, but these are actually good for you. The pumpkin is a great source of carotenoids, lutein, and xeaxanthin!
What?
I don't know what any of these things are, but I do know that they fight against free radicals! And Pumpkin is high in fiber. No big words needed there.
Often, when I bake, I work out at the same time. Yes, sometimes, instead of going to the gym, I pop in Jillian Michael's No More Trouble Zones, a one-hour, hard core workout that makes you want to cry and vomit at the same time. Jillian uses such wonderful phrases of inspiration like "You should be praying for death" to get you through the workout. I work out 4-5 times a week, running five miles a day and then strength training. The first time I did the video, I was as sore the next day as I was the first time I worked out. Ever.
I do these workouts (while the food is baking, not while I'm mixing and measuring, although I wonder how that would work out) to keep me from gorging on the baked goods that I make. I don't want to ruin all of that hard work by bingeing on 5 cookies. So it helps me keep my will power up.
But I don't need willpower with these cookies. Because of the use of pumpkin, there is not as much of a need for fat. There is only about 1/2 cup of oil in the entire recipe, bringing these bad boys to a grand total of 100 calories per cookie! Throw in some chocolate chips and add about 25 calories a cookie! And one cookie is plenty!
So I dedicate these cookies to Jillian Michaels and her words of inspiration, terrifying as they may be.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies adapted from Joy the Baker
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon powdered ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup canola or corn oil
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips, or any chip you like
Position a rack in the middle of the oven . Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and butter the paper.
Stir the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and spices together in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large bowl, using an electric mixer on medium speed, beat the eggs and sugar until smooth and lightened in color, about 1 minute. Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl as needed during mixing. On low speed, mix the oil, pumpkin, and vanilla until blended. Mix in the flour mixture to incorporate it. Mix in the chips.
Using an ice cream scoop with a 1/4-cup capacity, scoop mounds of the dough onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies at least 2 1/2-inches apart. You could also simply use a 1/4-cup measuring cup if you don’t have a scoop. Use a thin metal spatula to smooth and flatten the rounds.
Bake the cookies one sheet at a time until the tops feel firm and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out dry, about 16 minutes. Cool them on the baking sheet for 5 minutes, then use a wide metal spatula to transfer the cookies to a wire rack to cool cimpletely.
Dust the cooled cookies lightly with powdered sugar. The cookies can be stored in a tightly covered container at room temperature for up to 4 days.
"Soft cookie" - that is heaven to my ear. And it's pumpkin to boot!
Huh? You do your workout WHILE baking? I am trying to picture you in a little gym outfit, hopping and lunging around the kitchen while mixing up some batter. This cannot be right...
Posted by: Hilary | September 24, 2009 at 05:40 AM
Wonderful and guiltless !! Thank you !
Posted by: natalia | September 24, 2009 at 09:05 AM
Love pumpkin. Love chocolate. And you just sold me the Jillian Michaels video - I've been weightlifting for over 30 years, and nothing makes me sore any more!
Posted by: Madam Chow | September 24, 2009 at 10:21 AM
Ha! That video sounds great! I want to try it!! And I am making those cookies immediately! Like this weekend!
Posted by: Lauryn | September 24, 2009 at 11:01 AM
I always make pumpkin cchip bread- now I have to try your cookies! And I totally do push ups in my kichen waiting for things to bake/cook!
Posted by: Spike | September 24, 2009 at 12:03 PM
One of my favorite cookies and my husbands, too! I gotta go stock up on pumpkin! Now there's an idea, workout, bake, workout, bake.
Posted by: Katrina | September 24, 2009 at 01:08 PM
Superb photos; I'd love to try this recipe, and I actually have everything on hand! I'd probably lower the sugar content a bit, and maybe even replace some of the oil with applesauce (just because I've found that I love the slight apple flavor alongside the pumpkin). Thank you for the recipe; perfect timing!
Posted by: CinnamonQuill | September 24, 2009 at 06:12 PM
This cookie has my name all over it. It really does!! Pass me a few of those would ya?
Posted by: jenn | September 24, 2009 at 08:14 PM
Workout? Serious? Nope, not me which is why I'm no longer a size 0 or 2! Oh, well.
~ingrid
Posted by: ingrid | September 24, 2009 at 08:48 PM
I think I bookmarked these when Joy the Baker posted them last year but I have yet to actually make them--thanks for the reminder! I am still doing the 30 day shred for my Jillian fix (I am particularly fond of: "Do you feel like you're going to die? GOOD!") but it sounds like I may have to look into No More Trouble Zones too...
Posted by: Rachel | September 25, 2009 at 02:15 AM
yeah, although pumpkin's flavor doesn't thrill me, i think the texture of these alone makes them worthy of eating. and hey, there's chocolate!
Posted by: grace | September 25, 2009 at 11:05 AM
It IS time to get those cans of pumpkin off the shelf, isn't it! And what a great way to use them.... these look fantastic! Even though they are somewhat healthy - you'd never know it by the great photos! Pumpkin and chocolate are one of those super combos! Can't wait to give this one a try!
Posted by: Mike | September 25, 2009 at 04:44 PM
These cookies are brilliant! I love pumpkin, and I am thrilled that you made healthy cookies! I will have to give them a try. That's awesome that you work out with Jillian while baking... Jillian always kicks my butt!
Posted by: Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction | September 25, 2009 at 08:21 PM
Yum! I am all about pumpkin right now and these look fabulous!
Posted by: Jamie | September 25, 2009 at 08:47 PM
I found these looking for pumpkin recipes on Tastespotting and I can't wait to make 'em.
Posted by: sharon | September 25, 2009 at 10:50 PM
Teanna, you are my hero. I just did Jillian Michael's 30 day shred yesterday, only 20 minutes long (Level 1) and I was dying. I can barely move my arms right now. But I'm reaching through the pain to turn on my printer so I can printout this yummy recipe. Chocolate and pumpkin are my hubby's favorites so I can't wait to make this for him - thanks!! :)
Posted by: Phyllis (me HUNGRY!) | September 26, 2009 at 01:20 AM
oh gosh, I think I just died and went to cookie heaven. Seriously best cookies ever!
I'm like you I work out 4-5 times a week which is why I like to cook and bake healthy because I need to stay in shape. These cookies won't ruin our diet but also satisfy our sweet tooth!
Posted by: Jessie | September 28, 2009 at 02:34 PM
Girl, you didn't even need to mention the "healthy" part. Just say "pumpkin" and you've got me on my hind legs begging for a bite!
Posted by: Sophia | September 28, 2009 at 05:26 PM
They look so good and soft is really good! I will make them asap.thanks!
Posted by: Michelle | September 29, 2009 at 10:23 AM
Seriously, I have been thinking about making almost this exact type of cookie. I am a soft cookie gal, so excited to try these out!!! Thanks :)
Posted by: sara | September 29, 2009 at 01:59 PM