Pumpkin Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

These cookies are the right fall deal with! Smooth and chewy pumpkin spice cookies function the bottom. The cookie dough is filled with actual pumpkin and pumpkin spice, making certain that each chunk has an autumn vibe. Earlier than baking, every cookie is rolled in a pumpkin spice sugar combination for an additional layer of fall goodness. After baking they get indented within the center, like a thumbprint pressed down on it. The middle is then full of a easy cream cheese filling. It’s all of the flavors of fall in a single cookie!

Catch much more fall vibes by making our super moist pumpkin bread or our overnight pumpkin French toast casserole.

These melt-in-your-mouth pumpkin cookies are a bit of piece of heaven and are additionally surprisingly easy to make. The dough comes collectively rapidly, and the thumbprint method provides a enjoyable, hands-on step that’s good for getting the household concerned. Whether or not you’re baking for a fall get-together, a vacation social gathering, or simply since you’re craving one thing seasonal, these Pumpkin Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies are certain to be successful.

Ingredient Notes

• Unsalted Butter: Ensure that your butter is softened to room temperature for straightforward mixing. In case you solely have salted, scale back the salt within the recipe to 1/4 teaspoon.
• Pumpkin Purée: Use pure pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling accommodates added sugars and spices, which might alter the recipe.
• All-Function Flour: Keep on with common all-purpose flour right here for the proper texture.
• Baking Powder: This helps the cookies rise simply barely, giving them a pleasant smooth texture.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: You should use a store-bought mix or make your personal with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
• Cream Cheese: Make certain your cream cheese is absolutely softened earlier than mixing to get a easy, creamy filling. Chilly produces lumps.

Chilling the Dough

Chilling your dough is an important step to making sure the right cookie, and you don’t want to skip it! Chilling will settle down the butter which is able to assist forestall the cookies from spreading out too quick within the oven. In the event that they unfold too quick, there gained’t be something to indent.

The Excellent Indent

The identify “thumbprint cookies” comes from the traditional methodology of utilizing your thumb to press an indentation into the middle of the dough. Whereas that works simply advantageous, listed here are a couple of different instruments and strategies you should use to create a constant and even form each time:

Spherical Teaspoon: That is our most popular methodology! Use the again of a spherical teaspoon (1/2 or 1 tablespoon measurement works nicely) to softly press down into the nice and cozy cookies, making a wonderfully spherical indent.

Knuckle: In case you’d wish to preserve it conventional however need one thing sturdier than your thumb, attempt utilizing your knuckle to make the indent. It offers you extra management and reduces the chance of cracks.

Wine Cork: For a bigger, extra uniform indent, a clear wine cork works fantastically. Simply press it into the middle of the cookies whereas they’re nonetheless heat for a pleasant, spherical cavity.