With fall officially in session, a dessert chock full of the season’s finest ingredient is in order. What could be more fall than pumpkin? Pumpkin is such a versatile ingredient because it can be savory or sweet, decadent or light. Pumpkins are native to North America and have been a staple in North and South American diets for centuries. Because of their various uses and mild flavor, pumpkins are the perfect ingredient to add a little pizazz to your seasonal desserts.

While most desserts that call for pumpkin conjure up images of custards or pies, these pumpkin chocolate chip cookies are unexpected and delicious. With just the right amount of cinnamon to make them spicy and enough chocolate to make them rich, pumpkin is the perfect accompaniment to make these cookies extraordinary. These cookies are just one of the ways to incorporate pumpkin into your fall baking repertoire and are sure to please. Try them warm from the oven served with a steaming mug of cider and welcome the official start of the season. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 egg
2 cups all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon milk
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Combine pumpkin, sugar, vegetable oil, milk and egg.

2. In a separate bowl, mix, flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

3. Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture.

4. Add chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir well.

5. Drop by spoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet.

6. Bake at 350 for 12 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.