Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cookies

Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 50

Ingredients:
  • 3 cups white whole-wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 (15 ounce) can unseasoned pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups light brown sugar
  • 1 cup grapeseed or canola oil
  • 3 tablespoons milk, divided
  • 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice plus 1 teaspoon, divided
  • 3 teaspoons instant espresso powder, divided
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 8 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, softened
  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar
Directions:
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
  2. Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.
  3. Beat eggs, pumpkin, brown sugar and oil in a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer until well combined, about 1 minute. Add 2 tablespoons milk, 1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice, 2 teaspoons espresso powder and vanilla and beat until well combined, about 1 minute. Add the flour mixture in 3 parts, mixing until just combined after each addition.
  4. Using 2 tablespoons per cookie, drop mounds of the dough onto the prepared pans, at least 2 inches apart. Bake the cookies until firm and dry to the touch, 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool on the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 20 minutes. Repeat with the remaining dough.
  5. Beat cream cheese, butter and confectioners' sugar in a stand mixer or with an electric hand mixer until very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon milk and 1 teaspoon each pumpkin pie spice and espresso powder in a small bowl; beat until combined, about 30 seconds. Spread the frosting on the cookies.
Notes:

Indulge your PSL obsession with these cookies. Instant espresso powder gives these soft, cakey cookies a subtle yet recognizable coffee flavor. Spread with cream cheese frosting (with more pumpkin spice flavors) and sprinkle with cinnamon to finish. To make these cookies kid-friendly, simply omit the espresso powder. The flour in this recipe is a whole grain. Whole grains provide fiber, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Whole grain foods help control cholesterol levels, weight and blood pressure.

Nutrition:

Per serving: 127 calories, 7 g fat, 16 g carbohydrates, 10 g added sugars, 1 g fiber, 101 mg sodium

Recipe source: https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/275797/pumpkin-spice-latte-cookies/