Pumpkin Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies

These cookies are the proper fall deal with! Delicate 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 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 slightly piece of heaven and are additionally surprisingly easy to make. The dough comes collectively shortly, and the thumbprint method provides a enjoyable, hands-on step that’s excellent 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 certain to be a success.

Ingredient Notes

• Unsalted Butter: Be certain your butter is softened to room temperature for simple 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-Goal Flour: Persist with common all-purpose flour right here for the precise 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: Make sure your cream cheese is totally softened earlier than mixing to get a clean, creamy filling. Chilly produces lumps.

Chilling the Dough

Chilling your dough is an important step to making sure the proper cookie, and you do not need to skip it! Chilling will quiet 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 received’t be something to indent.

The Excellent Indent

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

Spherical Teaspoon: That is our most well-liked technique! Use the again of a spherical teaspoon (1/2 or 1 tablespoon dimension works nicely) to softly press down into the nice and cozy cookies, making a superbly spherical indent.

Knuckle: In case you’d wish to preserve 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.