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, guaranteeing 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 crammed with 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 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 get together, or simply since you’re craving one thing seasonal, these Pumpkin Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies are positive to be successful.

Ingredient Notes

• Unsalted Butter: Be sure that your butter is softened to room temperature for straightforward mixing. In the event you solely have salted, cut back the salt within the recipe to 1/4 teaspoon.
• Pumpkin Purée: Use pure pumpkin purée, not pumpkin pie filling. Pumpkin pie filling incorporates added sugars and spices, which might alter the recipe.
• All-Objective Flour: Persist with common all-purpose flour right here for the best texture.
• Baking Powder: This helps the cookies rise simply barely, giving them a pleasant delicate texture.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice: You should utilize a store-bought mix or make your individual with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves.
• Cream Cheese: Ensure your cream cheese is totally 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 calm down the butter which can 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 basic methodology of utilizing your thumb to press an indentation into the middle of the dough. Whereas that works simply advantageous, listed here are a number of different instruments and methods you should utilize to create a constant and even form each time:

Spherical Teaspoon: That is our most well-liked 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 superbly spherical indent.

Knuckle: In the event you’d wish to maintain it conventional however need one thing sturdier than your thumb, strive utilizing your knuckle to make the indent. It provides you extra management and reduces the danger of cracks.

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