Pumpkin Lattes, Pumpkin Carving, Pumpkin Cookies & My Little Pumpkin

Here is my not so secret recipe for the yummy Pumpkin Latte.

Steam 3/4 of a cup of egg nog until piping hot, add 1/4 cup strong black coffee, a pinch of cinnamon and pumpkin spice and top with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

These make a great special treat when the gals come over or a yummy dessert drink for adults.

Mc Dreamy had fun with the kids last night carving a pumpkin. McDreamy was quite grossed out over the insides and made funny faces that the Sprout thought were hilarious as he scooped out the seeds and goo. I guess pumpkins insides are yuckier than people insides for McDreamy!

After a trip to home depot to look at cupboards for the studio the Sprout and I needed something to do. With party planning all finished the Sprout and I decided to make pumpkin cookies today. I added a little orange colour to the cream cheese icing, delish!

Recipe:
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) unsalted butter, 1 stick melted, 1/2 stick softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
2 large eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten
1 cup canned pure pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon pumpkin pie spice
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon plus 2 pinches salt
1 2/3 cups flour
4 ounces cream cheese, chilled
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.2. In a large bowl, whisk together the melted butter and brown sugar until smooth. Whisk in the eggs, pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon vanilla, the baking powder, the baking soda and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Using a rubber spatula, fold in the flour.3. Using an ice cream scoop or tablespoon, drop 12 generous mounds of batter, spaced evenly, onto each baking sheet. Bake until springy to the touch, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a rack to cool completely.4. Meanwhile, using an electric mixer, cream the softened butter with the cream cheese. Add the confectioners' sugar and the remaining 2 pinches salt and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla; mix on low speed until blended, then beat on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 2 minutes.5. Spread the flat side of 12 cakes with the cream cheese frosting. Top each with another cake. I made 2 styles - for the pinwheels I piped the cookie mixture in a spiral and iced the same way. The sandwich's are good if you are really hungry but I found 2 cookies is a lot to eat. Have fun!

And here is my little pumpkin helper. This is not his Halloween costume, just a super cute outfit we picked up in Florida. He is so sweet and cuddly in it I found myself holding and snuggling him just a little extra today.