Nana's Spicy Pumpkin Chocolate Cookies

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 9 min
Servings: 24
Yield: 24 servings

Description

Packed with pumpkin and gooey chocolate, and rolled in a spicy cinnamon-sugar and white chocolate, these soft and chewy cookies scream fall!

Ingredients

1 cup white sugar, divided
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/2 cup white candy-coated milk chocolate pieces (such as M&M's®)

Directions

1 Whisk 1/2 cup white sugar, melted butter, and brown sugar together in a large bowl. Add pumpkin puree and vanilla extract; whisk until smooth.
2 Combine flour, 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, salt, baking soda, and baking powder in a separate bowl.
3 Mix flour mixture into the sugar-butter mixture; stir until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips gently. Cover dough with plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes.
4 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat® baking mat.
5 Roll 1 1/2 tablespoons of chilled dough into a ball. Repeat with the remaining dough.
6 Combine the remaining 1/2 cup white sugar, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Roll dough balls completely in the spicy cinnamon-sugar. Place on the prepared baking sheet, at least 2 inches apart, and slightly flatten the tops.
7 Bake in the preheated oven until edges are golden and cookies appear under-baked, about 9 minutes. Remove from oven and immediately place candy-coated chocolate pieces on top. Cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.