craving a little pumpkin

Some of the best flavors this time of year are the pumpkin treats. Pumpkin is a good idea any time of year, but seems to have more of a presence around the holidays. So if you are craving a little pumpkin here are some yummy treats you can try.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip cookies are one of my all time favorite cookies in the whole entire world. And I love this classic recipe because it is so easy and you can't mess it up. It is almost a Christmas tradition for my sisters and I make these and then eat them all. They definitely hit spot when those pumpkin cravings come on. 

Ingredients:

• 1 can of pumpkin
• 1 box of spice cake
• 1 1/2 c of semi sweet chocolate chips (maybe 2 c ;)

Prep:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix ingredients together
Spoon on to a greased cookie sheet (or I have discovered parchment paper is wonderful
Bake for 8-10 minutes. (maybe 12) Until cooked through and cake-ish. Unless you like them gooey.

See?...Easy!!

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Almost as easy, but just as good. Maybe better.
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Squares

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled)
• 1 tablespoon pumpkin-pie spice (or 1 tsp nut meg, 2 tsp ground Cinnamon)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature (I used salted)
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 1 package (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with foil, leaving an overhang on all sides. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, pie spice, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
2. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on medium-high speed until smooth; beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in pumpkin puree (mixture may appear curdled). Reduce speed to low, and mix in dry ingredients until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
3. Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with just a few moist crumbs attached, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in pan.
4. Lift cake from pan (using foil as an aid). Peel off foil, and use a serrated knife to cut into 24 squares.

I stumbled across this at Real MOM Kitchen. There are few other yummy treats worth checking out. (hint, hint)

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This one is for Abby who called me the other day wondering how I made it. She was craving something pumpkin and chocolate free. Poor nursing mother.

Pumpkin Smash from Jamba Juice. 

• Pour 1 c soy milk into a blender. (Could use vanilla soy milk.)
• Add the a couple scoops of pumpkin pie mix (about 1/2), 1 c frozen yogurt, and ice cubes.
• Blend until smooth with a thick consistency

Adjust ingredients to get the flavor and consistency you like. That's the beauty of making your own, opposed to dropping by Jamba Juice.