Cookies are made to be fun. We all know they are an indulgence. No one can say, “I will die if I don’t have a cookie” but we all know we want one. Who says that cookies can’t be good and good for you. Below is a recipe that is fun and tastes good. In the notes below you will see modifications for lighter cookies and fat free reduced cookies. I will even give you the breakdown on the nutritional value differences. The first part is the full-on recipe.

Overview

• Prep time 20 minutes and 3-4 hours refrigeration of dough
• Cook time 12 minutes per batch totalling 48 min
• Makes 48 cookies

Ingredients

• 2.5 cups of all purpose flour (I use unbleached)
• 1 cup of pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp of baking soda
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• 1 tsp of cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp of nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp of salt
• 1.5 cups of sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of powdered sugar (icing sugar)

Directions

1. Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium bowl.
2. Beat sugar and butter with mixer on medium high speed, then blend in pumpkin, egg and vanilla until incorporated.
3. Gradually mix in flour and dry ingredients.
4. Refrigerate dough for 3-4 hours.
5. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
6. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with non stick baking spray.
7. Scoop dough into one inch balls. (I use a small 2 ounce scoop, works well, worth the money) Roll in icing sugar, place dough balls on baking sheet.
8. Bake for roughly 12 minutes.
9. Remove from baking sheet to a cooling rack. When completely cool, store cookies in an airtight container. On the counter they will keep 3-4 days, in fridge for about a week.

Nutritional facts per Cookie

• Calorie 69
• Fat 2.45 g
• Carb 11.8 g
• Sugar 6.4 g
• Fiber 0.4 g
• Protein 1.4g

That is the full version, full fat, full sugar. Still not bad 2 cookies is only 140 cals. And they are good source of vit A. 

Now if you omit rolling them in icing sugar, you reduce, per cookie, the calories by 8.1, the carbs by 2.1 and the sugar by 2.1. Now for the reduced calorie and fat but leaving in the icing sugar. Omit the butter and replace with same quantity of unsweetened apple sauce. Cook for 1 minute less. 

Nutritional facts per Cookie

• Calorie 53
• Fat 0.5 g
• Carb 11.8 g
• Sugar 6.4 g
• Fiber 0.4 g
• Protein 1.4g

You can still omit the icing sugar for a plain version again deducting the calories and carbs and sugar. It really depends on your taste. All I will say is have fun and make it your own.