Pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern Cookies

These fun pumpkin, oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies are a Halloween tradition in my family. We shape them like pumpkins and decorate them like jack-o-lanterns with candy faces! 

    These cookies are delicious on their own. They are loaded with pumpkin, oatmeal and chocolate chips. They have a nice chew and the icing almost makes them taste like an oatmeal cream pie.  But what really makes them cute are the candy faces!

     I have made them as drop cookies before and covered them with a bit of cream cheese frosting and they were delicious that way as well, but there is just something about a candy face that makes them even better!

     I first shared this on the blog in 2015. But I thought I would bring it back to the front to remind you about how wonderful they are.  Plus that gave Little Dude and I a fun project to work on a few days ago.  

     So without further ado, I will let you read the original post from a few years ago:

     Happy birthday MiMi!  Don't tell anyone, but it is MiMi's birthday today!  In honor of her special day, I thought I would share a recipe that she has been making for most of my life.  It is definitely a family favorite that is full of memories. 

    These cookies are a Halloween staple in our family.  MiMi has made these cookies almost every year since 1984!   It was the dark ages.  A time before Pinterest and blogs and people found ideas for new recipes in newspapers.  

   That is exactly where this is from.  She still has the newspaper page with this and a few other recipes on it.  Now it wouldn't be October without them!

      

    We thought Little Dude would have fun putting candy on the pumpkins.  He did have fun, but most of the candy went into his mouth!  I suppose all of those grand ideas of my kid always eating healthy and not having junk are shot.  At least he eats well most of the time!

    You can let your imaginations run wild on the decorations.  They don't always have to make sense, they just have to taste good!

      I have to say even 3 years later, the nostalgia for these cookies is strong.  Little Dude and I had a blast decorating them.  We still ate some candy along the way, but this time he was really enjoying doing the piping as well.

      Of course one of his pumpkins got a little out of control with a huge mound of frosting and lots of candy.  He was really looking forward to eating it, even if it took him three sitting to get through it!

     I definitely recommend making these cookies on the bigger side, it gives you more room to decorate and have fun.  If you want smaller cookies, be sure to buy mini candies and chocolate chips so you can get a face on there! 

If you are looking for more fun Halloween recipes, you might like:

• Ghosts in the Graveyard Trifle
• Shrimp on the Brain Dip
• Pumpkin Patch Dirt Pudding Cups
• Skillet Monster Cookie

pumpkin cookies, jack-o-lantern cookies, pumpkin oatmeal cookies

cookies, dessert, Halloween

American

Yield: 16-24 servingsAuthor: Cooking With Carlee

Pumpkin Jack-O-Lantern Cookies

These fun pumpkin, oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies are a Halloween tradition in my family. We shape them like pumpkins and decorate them like jack-o-lanterns with candy faces!

prep time: 15 minscook time: 12 minstotal time: 27 mins

ingredients:

• 2 cups flour
• 1 cup oatmeal
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup solid pack pumpkin
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• For decorating:  crusting buttercream (or frosting tubes) and assorted candies and chocolate chips

instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Combine flour, oats, baking soda, cinnamon & salt.
3. Cream butter, gradually add sugars, beating until light and fluffy.
4. Add egg and vanilla, mix well.  Alternate additions of dry ingredients and pumpkin.  mix well after each addition. Stir in chocolate chips.
5. Shape into pumpkin shapes on greased or parchment paper lined baking sheets. 
6. Bake for 10-15 minutes depending on the size of the cookie.  They will still be soft and you don't want them to brown too much around the edges.  Cool for 15 minutes, then remove from cookie sheet to a wire rack to cool completely.
7. Once completely cooled, decorate with frosting and candies.

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Copyright: Cooking With Carlee 2018

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