Description
Pumpkin puree and warm spices meld into pillowy cookie dough, each bite unveiling a creamy cheesecake swirl that melts on your tongue. Baked to a golden edge, these cookies marry fall flavors with velvety tang.
Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F and line baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and cloves.
- In a large bowl beat butter, brown sugar, and 1/2 cup granulated sugar until creamy.
- Beat in pumpkin puree, egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
- In a small bowl beat cream cheese, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, egg yolk, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth.
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of cookie dough onto prepared sheets, spacing 2 inches apart.
- Place about 1 teaspoon of cheesecake mixture on top of each dough mound.
- Use a toothpick or skewer to swirl the cheesecake mixture into the cookie dough.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until edges are set but centers are still soft.
- Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Notes
- Chilling the dough for 30 minutes helps prevent spreading and yields thicker cookies.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days.
- Unbaked dough balls can be frozen on a baking sheet, then stored in a freezer bag for up to two months.
- For a deeper fall flavor, substitute pumpkin pie spice for the individual spices.