Vegan Pumpkin Butter Cookies

I don’t know of a better fall activity than getting cozy in my apartment and baking a pumpkin treat.  So once I had whipped up pumpkin butter (see previous post: www.thefussyfork.com/vegan-pumpkin-butter), I knew I had to make Pumpkin Butter Cookies.  Why? Because nothing welcomes the holiday season like pumpkin shaped cookies!

[caption id="attachment_1371" align="alignnone" width="640"] Vegan Pumpkin Butter Cookies on Tray[/caption]

The recipe for the cookies (like the pumpkin butter) can be found in the cookbook, Vegan Desserts: Sumptuous Sweets for Every Season by Hannah Kiminsky.

First, I gathered my ingredients.

[caption id="attachment_1248" align="alignnone" width="640"] Pumpkin Butter Cookie Ingredients[/caption]

Ideally, you want the vegan butter you are mixing in to be room temperature.  If this is not possible, be extra vigilant for hidden lumps!

[caption id="attachment_1249" align="alignnone" width="640"] Pumpkin Butter and Butter in Bowl[/caption]

Soon, I had creamed together the vegan butter and pumpkin butter.

[caption id="attachment_1250" align="alignnone" width="640"] Pumpkin Butter and Butter Creamed Together[/caption]

It was then time for the dry ingredients.  Remember to add the dry ingredients in increments, so they don’t puff up into a cloud once the mixer is turned on!

[caption id="attachment_1251" align="alignnone" width="640"] Adding Dry Ingredients to Pumpkin Butter Cookies[/caption]

After blending the ingredients together, I ended up with a crumbly, dry mixture.  I was worried I had done something wrong.  However, I found that when I used my hands to knead the dough, it stuck together!

[caption id="attachment_1252" align="alignnone" width="536"] Forming Dough Ball for Pumpkin Butter Cookies[/caption]

I kept going, until I had created one big ball of dough.

[caption id="attachment_1253" align="alignnone" width="640"] Pumpkin Butter Cookie Dough Ball[/caption]

After the dough spent 30 minutes in the refrigerator, it was the moment of truth.  Would I be able to create anything that even closely resembled a pumpkin?

I took a small piece of dough, a little smaller than the size of a doughnut hole, and formed it into a ball.  I then gently flattened the top and bottom of the ball and used the side of a toothpick to create vertical lines like those found on a pumpkin.  Finally, I placed a pumpkin seed in the top of the cookie to act as a stem.  The end result was a cookie that actually looked like a pumpkin!

[caption id="attachment_1254" align="alignnone" width="640"] Pumpkin Butter Dough Formed into Pumpkins[/caption]

The cookies went on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and into the oven!

[caption id="attachment_1255" align="alignnone" width="640"] Pumpkin Cookie Dough on Cookie Sheet[/caption]

20 minutes later, I had warm, pumpkin butter, pumpkin shaped cookies!

[caption id="attachment_1256" align="alignnone" width="640"] Pumpkin Butter Cookies on Cookie Sheet[/caption]

These cookies aren’t just for looks – they are dense, soft, and rich.  They pair well with a cup of tea or non-dairy milk!

[caption id="attachment_1257" align="alignnone" width="320"] Pumpkin Butter Cookies in Basket[/caption]

 

Vegan Pumpkin Butter Cookies
Ingredients
  • ½ cup pumpkin butter (see recipe at www.thefussyfork.com/vegan-pumpkin-butter)
  • ½ cup non-dairy butter (like Earth Balance)
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 and ⅔ cup flour
  • 4 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon ginger
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • pumpkin seeds
Instructions
  1. Mix pumpkin butter and non-dairy butter together until completely combined
  2. Mix in sugar, flour, cornstarch, spices, and salt
  3. The dough might seem dry but do not add extra liquid
  4. Use hands to form dough into a ball
  5. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes
  6. Preheat oven to 300 degrees
  7. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper
  8. Form the dough into small balls (a little smaller than a doughnut hole) and flatten the top and bottom slightly
  9. Use the side of a toothpick to create the lines of the pumpkin
  10. Then place a pumpkin seed in the top of the pumpkin
  11. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes
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