Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Shortbread Cookies

I know it has become kind of a controversial flavor (like everything that was once extremely popular), but I’m still very much into pumpkin pie spice. I think it is a great addition to desserts for fall, and it instantly makes me feel cozy. I’m not saying that I’m rushing to Starbucks as soon as the first leaves hit the floor, but I do enjoy the occasional pumpkin spice latte. Who’s with me on that??

Today, I’m sharing a recipe that’ll make even the most skeptical of us crave pumpkin spice flavored treats. These beautiful cookies literally taste like Halloween. I decided to make the base a shortbread cookie because of the rich, buttery taste and because I really wanted the pumpkin spice flavor to pop, so I knew it couldn’t be a cookie that already had a very strong taste on its own. The cookie is then dipped in dark chocolate and decorated with Halloween sprinkles (which you can find at bulk food stores). I think the bitterness of the dark chocolate perfectly complements the rich taste of the pumpkin pie spice. These would make a great gift for whoever is hosting the Halloween party this year.

*These cookies are better kept in the fridge.

Extra tips:

• For the dark chocolate, I simply used chocolate chips, but you can use any form of dark chocolate you’d like.
• I used a handmixer to cream the butter and sugar, because I find that this step is harder when using powdered sugar.
• As soon as the chocolate starts to soften, you want to stir it around to distribute the heat so that it melts smoothly and uniformly. The key here is stirring.
• When tempering the chocolate, you want to maintain it at the same temperature. Take it off the heat so it doesn’t become too hot, but don’t wait too long or it’ll become too cold. As soon as it starts melting, you want to move fast so it maintains the same temperature through the whole dipping process.
  

These cookies can seem kind of hard to make, but it’s just about paying attention to details when making the dough and working with the chocolate. Plus, the end result is so worth it. I guarantee that you’ll be wanting to eat every single one of these cookies in one sitting. If you’re not the Halloween party type of person (I mean, I am not!), these are just as great with a big cup of tea, curled up on the couch to watch a scary movie.

If you end up recreating this recipe, please tag me in your pictures and use to hashtag #teaandmascara. Also, don’t forget to go follow Tea and Mascara on Instagram so that you’re always notified when I post new content on here.

Happy baking!

Much love,