By Maureen Post Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Oct 24, 2008 at 3:37 PM

October is Dining Month on OnMilwaukee.com. All month, we're stuffed with restaurant reviews, special features, chef profiles and unique articles on everything food. Bon appetit!

In  keeping with the seasonal spirit, these pumpkin based cookies are the perfect snack to munch on while enjoying the crisp fall weather.

A cookie version of pumpkin pie; these treats combine the seasonal spice of cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg. On a sunny fall day, try them with hot apple cider or hot toddy.  

If you're willing to put in a little extra work, save the inner pumpkin scraps from your carving and puree them in a food processor. Use this puree rather than the canned for a true homemade treat.

Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
  • 3/4 cup canned plain pumpkin puree
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar or 1/3 cup
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup canola oil
  • 1/4 cup dark molasses
  • 1 cup raisins

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°F. Coat 3 baking sheets with cooking spray.

Whisk whole-wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, allspice and nutmeg in a large bowl.

Whisk pumpkin, brown sugar, eggs, oil and molasses in a second bowl until well combined. Stir the wet ingredients and raisins into the dry ingredients until no traces of dry ingredients remain. Drop the batter by level tablespoonfuls onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing the cookies 1 1/2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies until firm to the touch and lightly golden on top, 10 to 12 minutes, switching the pans back to front and top to bottom halfway through. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool.

Maureen Post Special to OnMilwaukee.com

OnMilwaukee.com staff writer Maureen Post grew up in Wauwatosa. A lover of international and urban culture, Maureen received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

After living on the east side of Madison for several years, Maureen returned to Milwaukee in 2006.

After a brief stint of travel, Maureen joined OnMilwaukee.com as the city’s oldest intern and has been hooked ever since. Combining her three key infatuations, Milwaukee’s great music, incredible food and inspiring art (and yes, in that order), Maureen’s job just about fits her perfectly.

Residing in Bay View, Maureen vehemently believes the city can become fresh and new with a simple move across town.