Pumpkin Pie Thumbprint Cookies
These pumpkin pie thumbprint cookies are a staple in my house during the holidays. They are a perfect addition to your Thanksgiving table and everyone will love them at Christmas time! They combine all the amazing flavor of pumpkin pie and a buttery shortbread cookie… they’re pretty much perfect, I won’t even tell if you eat them for breakfast because they are amazing with a cup of coffee!
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One of the best things about these is that they are sweetened exclusively with honey! I started sweetening baked goods with honey a few years ago and I love not only the taste but the benefits!
This time of year sweet treats abound, and while I’m never one to turn them down I would much rather use and eat a natural sweetener. Why is honey better? Well while it is actually slightly higher in calories than white sugar its benefits are awesome! Because it’s sweeter you don’t have to use as much of it, so the calories aren’t an issue. It is a more complex sweetener so it takes our bodies longer to process it not resulting in a sugar or insulin spike!
Yes that’s right mamas, no sugar rush!
It is also full of great minerals and vitamins so the calories from it aren’t just empty, sugar spiking calories!
When you’re a mom trying to balance all the holidays throw at you, all the excitement and sweet treats, it’s awesome to have cookies that keep your kids from turning into little sugar-fueled psychos!
Life is all about balance folks, cookies are great, honey-sweetened ones are awesome!
These cookies also add in Libby’s® 100% Pure Pumpkin and NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk, real butter, and you could even swap out half of the flour for whole wheat, delicious healthy ingredients that end up as cookies!! A total win in my book!
Here’s what you’ll need for these pumpkin pie thumbprint cookies –
Filling-
1/2- Cup Libby’s® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1/3- Cup NESTLÉ® CARNATION® Evaporated Milk
1- Egg White
3- Tbsp Honey
3/4- tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/2- tsp Vanilla
Cookie Dough-
2- Sticks Butter room temperature
2- Cups All Purpose flour
1/4- Cup Honey
1/4- tsp Salt
1- egg yolk
First things first get your oven preheating to 325.
To make the filling you can use an electric mixer or mix by hand. Combine your pumpkin and honey and mix thoroughly. Add in your egg white, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla and evaporated milk and continue mixing until everything is well incorporated.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric mixer mix your butter until it’s light and fluffy, add in your honey, and egg yolk. Gradually add in your flour and salt and mix until well and you have a nice thick dough.
Now you’re going to scoop your dough out (I love my dough scoop for this, you can also use a spoon)
Roll your scooped dough into balls and place them on a cookie sheet, they don’t spread out much but leave about 2 inches between them.
Now we’re going to make indentations in them, these are called thumbprints so you can use your thumb if you’d like, I use a wooden spoon handle though. Dip it in flour and push into the center of your dough balls.
Now you’re going to pop the cookies in the oven for 6 minutes. Then pull them out and push in the center again. This time you really don’t want to use your thumb! Pop them back in for another 6 minutes.
Now spoon your filling into the center of each cookie and put them back into the oven for another 5-6 minutes or until slightly golden brown and filling is mostly set.
Let your pumpkin pie thumbprint cookies cool, if you can, and then enjoy!! Keep them in an airtight container if you have any left to store that is! Enjoy the fact that these sweet treats help balance out the other holiday goodies in the most delicious way possible.
Another delicious way to add balance to your holiday is to realize that you don’t have to make it all from scratch.
I love baking but sometimes life gets hectic and while you want to whip up something delicious you don’t have the time to get the ingredients together and do all the baking.
Here’s my advice, the next time you’re at your local Walmart picking up the ingredients for these cookies, pick up a box of NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Brownies & More. These mixes are perfect for a busy mom trying to balance it all. Each box includes options to make brownies, cookies, and mini cups, so you can whip up the perfect treat for any event! 
This time of year I like to keep my pantry well stocked with baking supplies, plenty of quick mixes like NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Brownies & More, lots of flour, honey, vanilla, baking soda, and baking powder. I include staples like NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, and Libby’s® 100% Pure Pumpkin so that if I have time to bake I can make something awesome from scratch, or if I’m crunched for time I can whip up a quick pan of amazing brownies.
Find the balance this holiday season, a little healthier, a little indulgent. A little from scratch, and a little made easier. As a mom during these hectic seasons it’s important that we allow ourselves ways to balance it all to enjoy all the holidays have to offer, like time with our families, parties with friends, and lots of deliciousness!
